Post-traumatic growth following spinal cord injury

Post-traumatic growth (PTG) is defined as positive change as a result of a challenging life crisis, like trauma. Academic interest in PTG emerged in the 1980s. PTG does not occur as a direct result of trauma but from the struggle with a new reality as its aftermath. This struggle ultimately leads to growth and wisdom, even in the face of enduring distress. Several factors have been identified that potentially mediate or predict PTG. For example, PTG has been closely aligned with resilience.

• 1
  Being female, younger, having less formal education, and less time since injury had significant relationships with PTG, whereas depression, violent etiology, and injury level/severity did not.
• 2
  In each PTG domain, between 54 and 79% of the sample reported at least some positive change after injury.
• 3
  Positive change after injury was comparable for each PTG item except for new opportunities being available, which was significantly lower for those with SCI.