Posttraumatic Growth in a Predominantly Hispanic Cohort with a History of COVID-19 Infection

Some who suffer traumatic/adverse life events experience positive change or posttraumatic growth (PTG) from those events. Research suggests that minority populations may experience greater PTG than non-minorities, but factors contributing to these differences are unclear. The COVID-19 pandemic provides an opportunity to assess PTG in diverse populations.

To investigate PTG among COVID-19 survivors, compare PTG between Hispanic and non-Hispanic survivors, and ascertain factors that contribute to PTG.

A cross-sectional study of 239 adults with a history of COVID-19 infection were surveyed from December 2020 to September 2021 in San Antonio, TX. PTG was measured by the CAIR Pandemic Impact Questionnaire (C-PIQ), addressing five domains scored on a scale of 0-4: strengthened relationships, new possibilities, personal strength, spiritual change, and appreciation of life, with higher scores corresponding to greater PTG. Data related to pandemic-related social determinants of health stressors and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) health status domains were also collected. Multivariable linear regression analysis examined factors associated with PTG, including interactions between PTG scores and Hispanic ethnicity.

The sample was predominantly female (69%) and Hispanic (84%). The mean (SD) age was 43.7 (14.7) years, and the mean (SD) time between COVID-19 diagnosis to survey completion was 8.1 (3.2) months. The mean (SD, range) total PTG score for all respondents was 7.7 (4.7, 0-20); Hispanic respondents had higher scores than non-Hispanic respondents (8.1 [4.7] vs 5.7 [4.7]), respectively (p = 0.003). Multivariable regression analyses indicated higher PTG scores were positively associated with Hispanic ethnicity, older age, anxiety, and caring for sick/aging family members and negatively associated with depression (R² = 0.14).

Many survivors of COVID-19 infection experience PTG. Hispanic individuals with a history of COVID-19 infection experienced greater total PTG scores than non-Hispanic individuals. Older age, anxiety, and caring for sick/aging family members may contribute to greater PTG.