Posttraumatic Growth and Optimism in Health-Related Trauma: A Systematic Review

• Published in: Journal of clinical psychology in medical settings Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 281 - 296
• Main Authors: Bostock, Lucy, Sheikh, Alia I., Barton, Stephen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.12.2009; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adaptation; Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Cancer; Chronic Disease - psychology; Chronic illnesses; Coping; Family Medicine; Follow-Up Studies; General Practice; Health Psychology; Heart attacks; Humans; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Motivation; Optimism; Personality; Personality traits; Post-traumatic growth; Quality of life; Resilience, Psychological; Sick Role; Social support; Socioeconomic factors; Stress; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Systematic review; Variables; Siam; Posttraumatic growth; Health; Optimism
• ISSN: 1068-9583; 1573-3572
• DOI: 10.1007/s10880-009-9175-6

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) research is an emerging area of empirical study, especially within the field of clinical health psychology. Much of the research in this area has thus far focused on determining the correlates and predictors of PTG. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the association between posttraumatic growth and dispositional optimism, specifically in relation to health traumas. Empirical studies that met the inclusion criteria were reviewed according to specific evaluation criteria. Results regarding the relationship between dispositional optimism and posttraumatic growth were found to be equivocal. A number of conceptual and methodological issues were identified and discussed in relation to the field of PTG research. Future directions for research are provided.