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A post-traumatic growth model: psychological hardiness, happiness-increasing strategies, and problem-focused coping

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Abstract

This study focuses on the mediating effects of problem-focused coping and happiness-increasing strategies on the relationship between psychological hardiness and posttraumatic growth in a sample of individuals (N = 1069) exposed to various traumatic events. The data in the study were analysed with the structural equation model. The nested models strategy and bootstrapping were used to test the mediation effects in the model. Based on the results of the analysis, it was concluded that the relationship between psychological hardiness and posttraumatic growth is mediated by happiness-increasing strategies and problem-focused coping. It was further observed that problem-focused coping has a mediating effect on the relationship between happiness-increasing strategies and posttraumatic growth and those happiness-increasing strategies have a mediating effect on the relationship between psychological hardiness and problem-focused coping. Thus, problem-solving and emotion-regulating skills may have an effect on the relationship between psychological hardiness and posttraumatic growth.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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This article was produced from the PhD thesis and funded by ESOGÜ research fund (BAP-2019/21A215).

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Correspondence to Fatma Altınsoy.

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Altınsoy, F., Aypay, A. A post-traumatic growth model: psychological hardiness, happiness-increasing strategies, and problem-focused coping. Curr Psychol 42, 2208–2220 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02466-0

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