Cognitive Differentiators of Posttraumatic Growth and Depreciation Following Childhood Maltreatment
Presenter(s)
Dezanee M. Bluthenthal, Megan Hernandez, Hannah Manis
Files
Description
Posttraumatic growth (PTG) and posttraumatic depreciation (PTD) have been conceptualized as possible outcomes of cognitive struggle following traumatic events. This study examined cognitive differentiators (i.e. perceived event centrality, core beliefs challenge, change in cognitions about the self and world, and deliberate and intrusive rumination) of such sequelae in childhood maltreatment (CM) survivors, a population underrepresented in the PTG and PTD literature. Self-report measures from 326 undergraduates who endorsed CM were included in two stepwise hierarchical regressions. While it was predicted that event centrality would be associated with both PTG and PTD based on prior literature, it was only significantly linked to PTG (p = .033) in this CM sample. Examination of core beliefs emerged as a “double-edged sword,” influencing both PTG and PTD (p = .002 and .004). Deliberate rumination was positively linked with PTG (p = .001). Negative cognitions about the self were negatively associated with PTG (p = .002) and positively associated with PTD (p < .001); negative cognitions about the world and self-blame were not significant. Identification of these diverse cognitive predictors of PTG and PTD suggest well-being following CM may be enhanced by treatments that target core belief challenge and facilitate incorporation of more positive self-cognitions into one’s identity.Keywords: Childhood maltreatment, posttraumatic growth, posttraumatic depreciation, event centrality, core beliefs, rumination, posttraumatic cognitions
Publication Date
4-22-2020
Project Designation
Independent Research
Primary Advisor
Lucy J. Allbaugh
Primary Advisor's Department
Psychology
Keywords
Stander Symposium project, College of Arts and Sciences
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Good Health and Well-Being
Recommended Citation
"Cognitive Differentiators of Posttraumatic Growth and Depreciation Following Childhood Maltreatment" (2020). Stander Symposium Projects. 1978.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/stander_posters/1978
