World Trade Center Exposure and Posttraumatic Growth: Assessing Positive Psychological Change 15 Years after 9/11

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Trauma Studies
• Sociology

Background:

• The 9/11 terrorist attacks represent a significant traumatic event with long-term psychological consequences.
• Understanding posttraumatic growth (PTG) is crucial for assessing resilience and recovery in survivors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the presence and predictors of posttraumatic growth (PTG) among 9/11 survivors.
• To examine the relationship between PTG and psychosocial well-being, 9/11 exposure, and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS).

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) with 4934 participants.
• Employed confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and principal component analysis (PCA) to validate the PTGI factor structure.
• Applied multivariable linear regression models to identify associations between PTG and various indicators.

Main Results:

• A two-factor structure of the PTGI demonstrated a better fit than the original five-factor model.
• Higher levels of 9/11-related exposure, PTSS, social integration, social support, and self-efficacy were significantly associated with higher PTG scores.
• Specifically, very high 9/11 exposure (ß = 7.72) and high social integration (ß = 5.71) showed strong positive correlations with PTG.

Conclusions:

• Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is evident among 9/11 survivors even 15 years post-event.
• Significant exposure to the 9/11 attacks, ongoing PTSS, and robust psychosocial well-being indicators are associated with greater PTG.