Posttraumatic resilience and growth: A network analysis of character strengths among sexual assault survivors.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Defined as dispositional qualities that elevate well-being, character strengths such as love and kindness can be developed and enhanced to improve quality of life. Yet, little is known how specific strengths are associated with posttrauma mental health. The present study explored their concurrent associations with posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) in a sample of 405 women sexual assault survivors.

Method

We applied network analysis to investigate the structure of character strengths, PTSS, and PTG, as well as to identify character strengths most strongly associated with lower PTSS and greater PTG.

Results

Results revealed that the strengths of love and forgiveness were most strongly linked to lower PTSS, whereas spirituality

SUBMITTER: Kumar SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12284090 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature