Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 28, 2026

Simultaneous Application of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation during Virtual Reality Exposure
Published on: January 18, 2021
Indirect paths to posttraumatic growth: The role of war exposure and rumination
Orit Taubman-Ben-Ari1, Oded Basok1, Matan Mordehai Popko1
1School of Social Work, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.
Abstract:
Exposure to armed conflicts profoundly impacts individuals and their communities but provides an opportunity to experience posttraumatic growth (PTG). Whereas most studies examined the direct exposure to the traumatic event, this study investigated the direct and indirect links between type of war exposure (self-exposure, close others' exposure, acquaintances' exposure), and rumination (deliberate and intrusive) to PTG in Israelis following the Israel-Hamas war. Participants (n = 455) completed measures of war exposure, rumination, and PTG. Exposures of close-others and acquaintances were associated with higher PTG, partly through increased deliberate rumination. The theoretical significance lays in understanding that exposure to trauma through others in one's community may be more strongly linked with PTG than previously acknowledged, and highlighting the positive role of deliberate rumination. Attention to those who have been exposed to traumatic events indirectly, and interventions that encourage deliberate rumination, are essential for empowering individuals within their communities.
Related Concept Videos
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events, are a...
Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle
Cognitive Dissonance
Counterfactual Thinking
Traumatic Memory
Relationship Growth
