Facilitating post traumatic growth in survivors of disasters

Abstract

Natural and man-made disasters can be typified by loss and destruction. There is a need for mechanisms to promote positive outcomes to such events. Means aiming towards goals of Posttraumatic Growth can lead to successful recovery of an individual and a larger community in the aftermath of a disaster. In turn, resilience from experiencing the event and successive losses can prepare one for future difficulties. Psychological challenges in grief that arise after a traumatic event can mediate posttraumatic growth and recovery. Social Cognitive Theory posits that perceived self-efficacy in coping leads to positive results in posttraumatic recovery. Mortality Salience, a factor of Terror Management theory, also proposes that reduction in distress related to one’s own death anxiety may increase self-efficacy, resulting in growth. Through Terror Management and Social Cognitive means, the current research aims to promote Narrative Reconstruction as an important coping mechanism in relation to Posttraumatic Growth, for individuals as well as community-level bereavement in disasters.