Elaboration on the association between trauma, PTSD and posttraumatic growth: The role of trait resilience

Research divides and reports negative associations between negative (pathogenic; e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder; PTSD) and positive (salutogenic; e.g., posttraumatic growth, resilience) psychological responses to trauma. This study elaborates prior research by casting resilience as a trait rather than state. Participants with varied exposure levels (n = 500) completed measures of resilience, trauma history, PTSD, and posttraumatic growth. Results of structural equation modeling with LISREL showed that trauma increased PTSD and growth levels, whereas resilience was associated positively with growth and negatively with PTSD. It is concluded that salutogenic and pathological responses to trauma show differential associations with trait resilience.

► Pathogenic and salutogenic responses to psychological trauma are examined.
► Associations between resilience, trauma history, PTSD, and posttraumatic growth were examined.
► Trauma increases PTSD and growth levels.
► Trait resilience is associated positively with growth and negatively with PTSD.
► Salutogenic and pathological responses are associated differently with resilience.