Strengths of character and posttraumatic growth

• Published in: Journal of traumatic stress Vol. 21; no. 2; pp. 214 - 217
• Main Authors: Peterson, Christopher, Park, Nansook, Pole, Nnamdi, D'Andrea, Wendy, Seligman, Martin E. P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germantown Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.04.2008; Wiley
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Character; Creativity; Cross-Sectional Studies; Exploratory Behavior; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Internet - statistics & numerical data; Interpersonal Relations; Life Change Events; Male; Middle Aged; Personality Assessment; Personality Inventory - statistics & numerical data; Personality traits; Personality. Affectivity; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Psychometrics; Quality of Life; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Stress, Psychological - diagnosis; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Human; Post-traumatic growth; Character; Personality; Trauma; Personal experience; Survey; Life events; Cross sectional study; Risk factor; Internet; Antecedent; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0894-9867; 1573-6598
• DOI: 10.1002/jts.20332

How are strengths of character related to growth following trauma? A retrospective Web‐based study of 1,739 adults found small, but positive associations among the number of potentially traumatic events experienced and a number of cognitive and interpersonal character strengths. It was concluded that growth following trauma may entail the strengthening of character.