Traumatic events may lead to post‐traumatic growth (PTG). Nevertheless, little is known about the mechanisms leading to PTG, especially among older adults. This study sought to examine the direct relationship between world assumptions and PTG and the indirect relationship between them via two possible mediation pathways: post‐traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and meaning in life. One hundred fifty‐nine Holocaust survivors participated in the study (mean age = 82.34, SD = 5.81). Participants completed questionnaires of world assumptions, meaning in life, PTSS and PTG. The findings showed that world assumptions were positive and were positively associated with meaning in life and PTG and negatively associated with PTSS. The results of the multiple mediation model suggest that meaning in life and PTSS partially mediated the relations between world assumptions and PTG. Positive world assumptions were associated with higher meaning in life, which was associated with higher PTG. In contrast, despite the direct association between PTSS and PTG, the mediating effect of PTSS was negative, thus the more positive the world assumptions, the higher the PTG mediated by lower PTSS. The results suggest that the relationship between world assumptions and PTG may be direct and indirect. These findings suggest possible mechanisms underlying PTG, especially in old age.

中文翻译：

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老年人的世界假设和创伤后成长：大屠杀幸存者的案例

创伤事件可能导致创伤后成长（PTG）。然而，人们对导致 PTG 的机制知之甚少，尤其是在老年人中。本研究试图通过两种可能的中介途径来检验世界假设与 PTG 之间的直接关系以及它们之间的间接关系：创伤后压力症状 (PTSS) 和生活意义。159 名大屠杀幸存者参与了这项研究（平均年龄 = 82.34，SD = 5.81）。参与者完成了关于世界假设、生活意义、PTSS 和 PTG 的问卷。研究结果表明，世界假设是积极的，与生活意义和 PTG 呈正相关，与 PTSS 呈负相关。多重中介模型的结果表明，生活意义和 PTSS 部分地调节了世界假设和 PTG 之间的关系。积极的世界假设与更高的生活意义相关，这与更高的 PTG 相关。相比之下，尽管 PTSS 和 PTG 之间存在直接关联，但 PTSS 的中介作用是负面的，因此世界假设越积极，较低的 PTSS 所介导的 PTG 就越高。结果表明，世界假设与 PTG 之间的关系可能是直接的，也可能是间接的。这些发现表明 PTG 的可能机制，尤其是在老年时。PTSS 的中介效应为负，因此世界假设越积极，较低 PTSS 所介导的 PTG 越高。结果表明，世界假设与 PTG 之间的关系可能是直接的，也可能是间接的。这些发现表明 PTG 的可能机制，尤其是在老年时。PTSS 的中介效应为负，因此世界假设越积极，较低 PTSS 所介导的 PTG 越高。结果表明，世界假设与 PTG 之间的关系可能是直接的，也可能是间接的。这些发现表明 PTG 的可能机制，尤其是在老年时。