Exposure to stressful and potentially traumatic events is common and may lead to long-term functional changes in an individual’s life. Some may suffer chronic psychological symptoms, while others may experience resilience or even positive life changes, called post-traumatic growth. Yet the nature of post-traumatic growth and its relation to functional outcomes remain unclear. Post-traumatic growth is often associated with reduced distress and enhanced positive outcomes, however some studies report negative or no relation between post-traumatic growth and well-being. Still, others report that perceived growth may be a symptom of distress. In addition, it remains unclear whether resilience, post-traumatic growth, and post-traumatic distress are biologically dissociable, and how these biological mechanisms may mediate functional changes associated with trauma outcomes. The integration of psychosocial and biological measures is needed for a more comprehensive understanding of post-traumatic growth and its functional correlates.
The goal of this Research Topic is to identify and evaluate unique psychosocial and biological (i.e., physiological, neuropsychological, epigenetic, metabolic, etc.) correlates of post-traumatic growth. An emphasis on dissociating post-traumatic growth from other trajectories, including general resilience/recovery and post-traumatic stress is encouraged. In contrast to pathology-focused literature, this Research Topic will help bring a more balanced perspective to the study of individual risk and resilience. Specifically, this Research Topic is important in our understanding of individual trauma recovery and promotion of positive socio-cognitive behaviors.
This Research Topic welcomes Original Research, Review, Clinical Trial, Methods, including basic, translational, and clinical research that investigate physiological, immunological, epigenetic, or neural, or psychosocial correlates associated with posttraumatic growth. Contributions that include perspectives from multiple disciplines (psychiatry, psychology, neuroscience, biology, etc), and/or underrepresented social and cultural communities are especially welcome.
Exposure to stressful and potentially traumatic events is common and may lead to long-term functional changes in an individual’s life. Some may suffer chronic psychological symptoms, while others may experience resilience or even positive life changes, called post-traumatic growth. Yet the nature of post-traumatic growth and its relation to functional outcomes remain unclear. Post-traumatic growth is often associated with reduced distress and enhanced positive outcomes, however some studies report negative or no relation between post-traumatic growth and well-being. Still, others report that perceived growth may be a symptom of distress. In addition, it remains unclear whether resilience, post-traumatic growth, and post-traumatic distress are biologically dissociable, and how these biological mechanisms may mediate functional changes associated with trauma outcomes. The integration of psychosocial and biological measures is needed for a more comprehensive understanding of post-traumatic growth and its functional correlates.
The goal of this Research Topic is to identify and evaluate unique psychosocial and biological (i.e., physiological, neuropsychological, epigenetic, metabolic, etc.) correlates of post-traumatic growth. An emphasis on dissociating post-traumatic growth from other trajectories, including general resilience/recovery and post-traumatic stress is encouraged. In contrast to pathology-focused literature, this Research Topic will help bring a more balanced perspective to the study of individual risk and resilience. Specifically, this Research Topic is important in our understanding of individual trauma recovery and promotion of positive socio-cognitive behaviors.
This Research Topic welcomes Original Research, Review, Clinical Trial, Methods, including basic, translational, and clinical research that investigate physiological, immunological, epigenetic, or neural, or psychosocial correlates associated with posttraumatic growth. Contributions that include perspectives from multiple disciplines (psychiatry, psychology, neuroscience, biology, etc), and/or underrepresented social and cultural communities are especially welcome.
