Skip to main content

War and Post Traumatic Growth

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Comprehensive Guide to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Abstract

Until recently, researchers have failed to consider and examine the positive outcomes of having experienced war. Posttraumatic growth (PTG) describes the phenomenon of positive outcomes which result from, or follow, traumatic experiences. This chapter presents PTG in relation to war and will overview the topic of PTG; summarize the areas of growth which result from trauma; review the literature specific to war and PTG; consider the relationship between resilience, war, and PTG; and examine practices and procedures which both treat trauma and encourage PTG.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

CBT:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

PTG:

Posttraumatic Growth

References

  • Armeli S, Gunthert KC, Cohen LH. Stressor appraisals, coping, and post-event outcomes: the dimensionality and antecedents of stress-related growth. J Soc Clin Psychol. 2001;20(3):366–95. doi:10.1521/jscp.20.3.366.22304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balzac F. PTSD and depression increase in veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Neuropsych Rev. 2008;9(11):1–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benetato BB. Posttraumatic growth among operation enduring freedom and operation Iraqi freedom amputees. J Nurs Scholarsh. 2011;43(4):412–20. doi:10.1111/j.1547-5069.2011.01421.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bonanno GA. Loss, trauma, and human resilience: have we underestimated the human capacity to thrive after extremely aversive events? Am Psychol. 2004;59:20–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Calhoon LG, Tedischi RG. Posttraumatic growth: the positive lessons of loss. In: Neimeyer RA, editor. Meaning reconstructions & the experience of loss. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association; 2001. p. 157–72.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Chard KM, Schumm JA, Owens GP, Cottingham SM. A comparison of OEF and OIF veterans and Vietnam veterans receiving cognitive processing therapy. J Traumatic Stress. 2010;23(1):25–32. doi:10.1002/jts.20500.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erikson E. Identity, youth and crisis. New York: W.W. Norton; 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feder A, Southwick SM, Goetz RR, Yanping W, Alonso A, Smith BW, … Vythilingam M. Posttraumatic growth in former Vietnam prisoners of war. Psych Interper Biol Process. 2008; 71(4):359–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankl VE. Man’s search for meaning: an introduction to logotherapy. New York: Simon & Schuster; 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fredrickson BL. The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. Am Psychol. 2001;56(3):218–26. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.56.3.218.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Freud S. Introductory lectures on psychoanalysis. (Standard Edition, vol. 15–16). London: Hogarth Press; 1916/1917. p. 3–483.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedman JJ. Posttraumatic stress disorder among military returnees from Afghanistan and Iraq. Am J Psychiatry. 2006;163:586–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Furst SS. The stimulus barrier and the pathogenicity of trauma. Int J Psychoanal. 1978;59:345–52.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glover-Graf NM, Miller E, Freeman S. Accommodating veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in the academic setting. Rehabil Edu. 2010;24(1 and 2):43–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Go Army. Living the army values: it means you live up to a high standard. 2011. Retrieved from http://www.goarmy.com/soldier-life/being-a-soldier/living-the-army-values.html

  • Graf N, Miller E, Feist A, Freeman S. Returning veterans’ adjustment concerns: family views. J Appl Rehabil Counsel. 2011;42(2):13–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray MJ, Schorr Y, Nash W, Lebowitz L, Amidon A, Lansing A, … Litz BT. Adaptive disclosure: an open trial of a novel exposure-based intervention for service members with combat-related psychological stress injuries. Behavior Therapy. 2012; 43(2):407–15. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2011.09.001.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagenaars MA, van Minnen A, de Rooij M. Cognitions in prolonged exposure therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder. Int J Clin Health Psychol. 2010;10(3):421–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Helgeson VS, Reynolds KA, Tomich PL. A meta-analytic review of benefit finding and growth. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2006;74(5):797–816. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.74.5.797.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoge CW, Castro CA, Messer SC, McGurk D, Cotting DI, Koffman RL. Combat duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, mental health problems, and barriers to care. New Eng J Med. 2004;351(1):13–22. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa040603.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • James RK, Gilliland BE. Crisis intervention strategies. Belmont: Brooks/Cole; 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joseph S. Client-centered therapy, post-traumatic stress, and post-traumatic growth: theoretical perspectives and practical implications. Psychol Psychother Theory Res Pract. 2004;77:101–20. doi:10.1348/1476083 04322874281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joseph S. Growth following adversity: positive psychological perspectives on posttraumatic stress. Psychol Topic. 2009;18(2):335–44. doi:10.1016/j. cpr.2005.12.006.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimhi S, Eshel Y, Zysberg L, Hantman S. Postwar winners and losers in the long run: determinants of war related stress symptoms and posttraumatic growth. Community Ment Health. 2010;46:10–9. doi:10.1007/s10597-009-9183-x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kunst MJ. Peritraumatic distress, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, and posttraumatic growth in victims of violence. J Trauma Stress. 2010;23(4):514–8. doi:10.1002/jts.20556.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Larick J, Graf NM. Battlefield compassion and posttraumatic growth in combat servicepersons. J Social Work Disabil Rehabil. 2012;11(4):219–39. doi:10.1080/1536710X.2012.730824.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lepore S, Revenson T. Relationships between posttraumatic growth and resilience: recovery, resistance and reconfiguration. In: Calhoun LG, Tedschi RG, editors. The handbook of posttraumatic growth: research and practice. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum; 2006. p. 24–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindstrom CM, Cann A, Calhoun LG, Tedeschi RG. The relationship of core belief challenge, rumination, disclosure, and sociocultural elements to posttraumatic growth. Psychol Trauma. 2013;5(1):50–5. doi:10.1037/a0022030.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linley PA, Joseph S. Positive change following trauma and adversity: a review. J Trauma Stress. 2004;17(1):11–21. doi:10.1023/B:JOTS.0000014671.27856.7e.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maguen S, Vogt D, King L, King D, Litz B. Posttraumatic growth among Gulf War I veterans: the predictive role of deployment-related experiences and background characteristics. J Loss Trauma. 2006;11(5):373–88. doi:10.1080/15325020600672004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moran S, Schmidt J, Burker EJ. Posttraumatic growth and posttraumatic stress disorder in veterans. J Rehabil. 2013;79(2):34–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mrazek PJ, Mrazek DA. Resilience in child maltreatment victims: a conceptual exploration. Child Abuse Negl. 1987;11(3):357–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nietzsche F, Large D. Twilight of the idols: a new translation by Duncan Large. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pietrzak RH, Goldstein MB, Malley JC, Rivers AJ, Johnson DC, Morgan CA, Southwick SM. Posttraumatic growth in veterans of operations enduring freedom and Iraqi freedom. J Affect Disord. 2010;126(1–2):230–5. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2010.03.021.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ramos C, Leal I. Posttraumatic growth in the aftermath of trauma: a literature review about related factors and application contexts. Psychol Commun Health. 2013;2(1):43–54. doi:10.5964/pch.v2i1.39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rothbaum BO, Rizzo A, Difede J. Virtual reality exposure therapy for combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder Rothbaum et al. Virtual reality exposure therapy for PTSD. Annal NY Acad Sci. 2010;1208(1):126–32. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05691.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seligman MEP, Csikszentmihalyi M. Positive psychology: an introduction. Am Psychol. 2000;55:5–14.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Silva J, Ownsworth T, Shields C, Fleming J. Enhanced appreciation of life following acquired brain injury: posttraumatic growth at 6 months post discharge. Brain Impair. 2011;12(2):93–104. doi:10.1375/brim.12.2.93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stephen J. Growth following adversity: positive psychological perspectives on posttraumatic stress. Psychol Topic. 2009;18(2):225–343.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taku K, Cann A, Tedschi RG, Calhoun LG. Intrusive versus deliberate rumination in posttraumatic growth across US and Japanese samples. Anxiety Stress Coping. 2009;22(2):129–36. doi:10.1080/10615800802317841.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tedeschi RG. Violence transformed: posttraumatic growth in survivors and their societies. Aggress Violent Behav. 1999;4(3):319–41. doi:10.1016/ S1359-1789(98)00005-6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tedeschi RG, Calhoun LG. The posttraumatic growth inventory: measuring the positive legacy of trauma. J Trauma Stress. 1996;9:455–71. doi:10.1207/s15327965pli1501_01.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tedeschi RG, Calhoun LG. Posttraumatic growth: conceptual foundations and empirical evidence. Psychol Inq. 2004;15(1):1–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2011). Traumatic grief: Symptomatology and treatment for the Iraq War veteran. Retrieved from http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/pages/tgs-treatment-iraq-war.asp.

  • Werner E, Smith R. Journeys from childhood to midlife: risk, resilience, and recovery. Ithaca: Cornell University Press; 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  • Westphal M, Bonanno GA. Posttraumatic growth and resilience to trauma: different sides of the same coin or different coins? Appl Psychol Int Rev. 2007;56(3):417–27. doi:10.1111/j.1464-0597.2007.00298.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Noreen M. Graf .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this entry

Cite this entry

Graf, N.M. (2015). War and Post Traumatic Growth. In: Martin, C., Preedy, V., Patel, V. (eds) Comprehensive Guide to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08613-2_59-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08613-2_59-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-08613-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

Publish with us

Policies and ethics