The Sierra Leonean population has faced severe collective traumata (e.g., civil war, Ebola). Although adversities have a devastating impact on people’s lives, there is strong evidence that the struggle with stressful life events can lead to positive changes, which is called posttraumatic growth (PTG). Across many cultures individuals experience PTG. However, the nature of PTG might be influenced by cultural factors. This study aimed to explore PTG in a Sierra Leonean sample using a convergent parallel mixed methods design. The quantitative study investigated the factor structure of the expanded Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI-X). The qualitative study identified emergent PTG themes. In sum, 360 adults reported on their worst experience and completed the PTGI-X; Additionally, 20 participants took part in in-depth interviews. The original factor structure of the PTGI-X did not apply to this Sierra Leonean sample. A one-factor model including 17 items was supported by confirmatory factor analysis. The qualitative findings revealed PTG dimensions that corresponded to the original ones, which were summarised into the domain “individual growth” (tranquillity and trust, achievement motivation, existential apperception, emphasis on values of life, benevolence). A new domain “collective growth”, which reflected societal changes, was found as well. That means, in addition to a personal positive transformation, a social transformation was revealed. The findings indicated that an individualistic measurement such as the PTGI-X falls short to examine growth dimensions in non-Western cultures. A broader definition of PTG might foster the integration of different cultural and collective elements that emerge in response to stressful events.

塞拉利昂人口面临严重的集体创伤（例如内战、埃博拉）。尽管逆境对人们的生活有着毁灭性的影响，但有强有力的证据表明，与压力生活事件的斗争可以带来积极的变化，这被称为创伤后成长 (PTG)。在许多文化中，个人都会体验 PTG。然而，PTG 的性质可能会受到文化因素的影响。本研究旨在使用收敛平行混合方法设计探索塞拉利昂样本中的 PTG。定量研究调查了扩展的创伤后成长量表 (PTGI-X) 的因子结构。定性研究确定了新兴的 PTG 主题。总之，360 名成年人报告了他们最糟糕的经历并完成了 PTGI-X；此外，还有20名参与者参加了深度访谈。PTGI-X 的原始因子结构不适用于该塞拉利昂样本。验证性因子分析支持包含 17 个项目的单因子模型。定性发现揭示了与原始维度相对应的 PTG 维度，这些维度被概括为“个体成长”领域（宁静与信任、成就动机、存在感、对生命价值的重视、仁爱）。还发现了一个反映社会变化的新领域“集体成长”。这意味着，除了个人积极转变之外，还揭示了社会转变。研究结果表明，诸如 PTGI-X 之类的个人主义测量不足以检查非西方文化中的增长维度。