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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment

Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment

Published on: December 6, 2024

Does self-reported posttraumatic growth reflect genuine positive change?

Patricia Frazier¹, Howard Tennen, Margaret Gavian

¹Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. pfraz@umn.edu

Psychological Science

|June 12, 2009

Summary

Self-reported posttraumatic growth (PTG) measures may not accurately capture actual growth after trauma. Perceived growth correlated with distress, while actual growth did not, suggesting distinct processes. The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) may not reflect real change.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment

Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment

Published on: December 6, 2024

Area of Science:

Psychology
Trauma Studies
Mental Health Research

Background:

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is a positive psychological change experienced after adversity.
Self-report measures, like the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), are commonly used to assess PTG.
The validity of retrospective self-reports in measuring actual change from pre- to posttrauma remains under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the validity of self-reported posttraumatic growth (PTG).
To assess the relationship between perceived growth and actual growth from pre- to posttrauma.
To determine if the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) accurately reflects pre- to posttrauma changes.

Main Methods:

Undergraduate students completed PTG measures at two time points, two months apart.
The study compared changes in PTG measures with scores on the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI).
Participants who reported a traumatic event between assessments (n=122) were analyzed.

Main Results:

Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) scores were largely unrelated to actual growth in PTG domains.
Perceived growth was associated with increased distress, whereas actual growth was linked to decreased distress.
Perceived growth correlated with positive reinterpretation coping, but actual growth did not.

Conclusions:

The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), and similar retrospective measures, may not accurately capture actual pre- to posttrauma growth.
Perceived and actual growth appear to represent distinct psychological processes.
Further research is needed to develop more accurate measures of posttraumatic adaptation and growth.