Prediction of post-traumatic growth in the face of the COVID-19 crisis based on resilience, post-traumatic stress and social participation: A longitudinal study

Paula Collazo-Castiñeira; Rocío Rodríguez-Rey; Helena Garrido-Hernansaiz; Silvia Collado

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.985879

Prediction of post-traumatic growth in the face of the COVID-19 crisis based on resilience, post-traumatic stress and social participation: A longitudinal study

Front Psychol. 2022 Aug 11:13:985879. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.985879. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Paula Collazo-Castiñeira^{1

2}, Rocío Rodríguez-Rey¹, Helena Garrido-Hernansaiz³, Silvia Collado⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, Universidad Pontificia Comillas, Madrid, Spain.
² Department of Geriatrics, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain.
³ Department of Education and Psychology, Centro Universitario Cardenal Cisneros, Alcalá de Henares, Spain.
⁴ Department of Psychology and Sociology, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, University of Zaragoza, Teruel, Spain.

Abstract

The COVID-19 crisis has generated a severe and negative psychological impact worldwide. Despite this, it is also possible to experience post-traumatic growth (PTG). This study aimed to longitudinally explore the prevalence of PTG in the Spanish population and test a predictive model for PTG from resilience, post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), and participation in social activities. Data were collected longitudinally in March, July, and November 2020 via an online survey. About 20% of the sample showed moderate-high levels of PTG, with no significant differences over time. The predictive model explained 19% of the variance in PTG, showing that the inverse relation between resilience and PTG was mediated by PTSS. Additionally, participation in social activities acted as a predictor of PTG. Women, young people, those who had lost their job and people who had experienced COVID-19 symptoms or the loss of a loved one presented higher PTG. Thus, people have experienced positive changes (PTG), but these did not protect them from adverse symptomatology (PTSS).

Keywords: COVID 19 pandemic; lockdown 2020; post-traumatic growth; post-traumatic stress; resilience; social participation.