Objective: Studies examining posttraumatic growth (PTG) rely on surveys evaluating PTG in relation to prior traumatic experiences, resulting in psychometric problems due to the linkage of the dependent and independent variables. Few studies have assessed PTG following combat deployment while also controlling for mental health problems.

Method: Longitudinal data on PTG, combat experience, and mental health were examined among U.S. Millennium Cohort Study deployers (n = 8732). Scores from a short-form (SF) version of the PTG inventory assessing current-state beliefs (C-PTGI-SF) independent of any predictor variables were assessed at time 1 (T1), before deployment, and change in scores were assessed approximately 3 years later after deployment at time 2 (T2). All participants screened negative for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression at T1.

Results: Combat deployment severity was associated with a worsening of C-PTGI-SF scores at T2 among participants with moderate C-PTGI-SF scores at T1. A positive screen for comorbid PTSD/depression was associated with a worsening of C-PTGI-SF scores at T2 among participants with moderate or high C-PTGI-SF scores at T1. At T2, a strong inverse correlation was found between C-PTGI-SF scores and PTSD (r = −0.38) and depression (−0.41). Only 5% of participants who screened positive for a mental health problem at T2 (23/517) also experienced positive growth.

Conclusions: These results challenge the clinical utility of the PTG construct. While PTG may be a useful framework for supporting trauma recovery on an individual basis, PTG does not appear to be distinct and independent from the negative psychological impact of traumatic experiences.

目的：研究创伤后成长 (PTG) 依赖于评估与先前创伤经历相关的 PTG 的调查，由于因变量和自变量的联系而导致心理测量问题。很少有研究在战斗部署后评估 PTG，同时还控制心理健康问题。

方法：在美国千年队列研究部署者 ( n = 8732)中检查了关于 PTG、战斗经验和心理健康的纵向数据。在部署前的时间 1 (T1) 评估来自评估当前状态信念 (C-PTGI-SF) 的 PTG 清单的简短 (SF) 版本的分数，该分数独立于任何预测变量，并且评估分数的变化大约3 年后在时间 2 (T2) 部署后。所有参与者在 T1 时的创伤后应激障碍 (PTSD) 和抑郁筛查均呈阴性。

结果：在 T1 时 C-PTGI-SF 得分中等的参与者中，战斗部署的严重程度与 T2 时 C-PTGI-SF 得分的恶化相关。在 T1 时具有中度或高 C-PTGI-SF 评分的参与者中，合并 PTSD/抑郁症的阳性筛查与 T2 时 C-PTGI-SF 评分的恶化相关。在 T2，发现 C-PTGI-SF 评分与 PTSD ( r = -0.38) 和抑郁 (-0.41)之间存在强烈的负相关。在 T2 (23/517) 心理健康问题筛查呈阳性的参与者中，只有 5%也经历了正增长。

结论：这些结果挑战了 PTG 结构的临床效用。虽然 PTG 可能是支持个体创伤恢复的有用框架，但 PTG 似乎与创伤经历的负面心理影响并没有区别和独立。