Rationale

The COVID-19 pandemic has had numerous negative effects globally, contributing to mortality, social restriction, and psychological distress. To date, however, the majority of research on the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has focused on negative psychological outcomes, such as depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Objective

Although there is debate about the constructive vs. illusory nature of post-traumatic growth (PTG), it has been found to be prevalent in a broad range of trauma survivors, including individuals affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this study was to identify pre- and peri-pandemic factors associated with pandemic-related PTG in a national sample of U.S. veterans.

Methods

Data were analyzed from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study, which surveyed a nationally representative cohort of 3078 U.S. veterans. A broad range of pre-pandemic and 1-year peri-pandemic factors associated with pandemic-related PTG were evaluated. Curve estimation and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were conducted to characterize the association between pandemic-related PTSD symptoms and PTG.

Results

Worries about the effect of the pandemic on one's physical and mental health, PTG in response to previous traumas (i.e., new possibilities and improved interpersonal relationships), and pandemic-related avoidance symptoms were the strongest correlates of pandemic-related PTG. An inverted-U shaped relationship provided the best fit to the association between pandemic-related PTSD symptoms and endorsement of PTG, with moderate severity of PTSD symptoms optimally efficient in identifying veterans who endorsed PTG.

Conclusions

Results of this study suggest that psychosocial interventions that promote more deliberate and organized rumination about the pandemic and enhance PTG in response to prior traumatic events may help facilitate positive psychological changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic in U.S. military veterans. Longitudinal studies on functional correlates of PTG may help inform whether these changes are constructive vs. illusory in nature.

中文翻译：

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与应对 COVID-19 大流行的创伤后成长相关的因素：来自美国退伍军人全国样本的结果

基本原理

COVID-19 大流行在全球范围内产生了许多负面影响，导致死亡率、社会限制和心理困扰。然而，迄今为止，大多数关于 COVID-19 大流行的心理影响的研究都集中在负面的心理结果上，例如抑郁、焦虑和创伤后应激障碍 (PTSD)。

客观的

尽管关于创伤后成长 (PTG) 的建设性和虚幻性存在争议，但已发现它在广泛的创伤幸存者中普遍存在，包括受 COVID-19 大流行影响的个人。本研究的目的是在美国退伍军人的全国样本中确定与大流行相关 PTG 相关的大流行前和大流行期间因素。

方法

数据分析来自全国退伍军人健康与复原力研究，该研究调查了具有全国代表性的 3078 名美国退伍军人。评估了与大流行相关 PTG 相关的广泛的大流行前和 1 年大流行期间因素。进行了曲线估计和接受者操作特征曲线分析，以表征与大流行相关的 PTSD 症状与 PTG 之间的关联。

结果

担心大流行病对个人身心健康的影响、PTG 对先前创伤的反应（即新的可能性和改善的人际关系）以及与大流行病相关的回避症状是与大流行病相关的 PTG 的最强关联。倒 U 形关系最适合大流行相关 PTSD 症状与 PTG 认可之间的关联，中等严重程度的 PTSD 症状最有效地识别认可 PTG 的退伍军人。

结论

这项研究的结果表明，促进对大流行进行更深思熟虑和有组织的反省并增强 PTG 以应对先前的创伤事件的社会心理干预可能有助于促进美国退伍军人与 COVID-19 大流行相关的积极心理变化。对 PTG 功能相关性的纵向研究可能有助于了解这些变化本质上是建设性的还是虚幻的。