| Abstract [eng] |
There is a growing amount of studies that prove the fact that negative and positive outcomes of traumatic experience can exist in coherence. Positive outcomes are defined as posttraumatic growth (PTG). Tedeschi and Calhoun (1996) were the first to offer the concept of posttraumatic growth. Posttraumatic growth is defined as positive change that the individual experiences as a result of the struggle with a traumatic event and difficulties following it. Posttraumatic growth is reported in three major domains: change in the sense of self, change in philosophy of life and change in relationships with others. The aim of this study was to evaluate posttraumatic growth experience among political repression survivors in Lithuania and identify the relation between PTG and trauma symptoms, traumatic experience and the factors that helped to overcome traumatic experience. 205 survivors of political repression participated in the survey: 1) PTG group: the ones who reported positive outcomes of political repression and gave qualitative information about this experience (N = 107); 2) non PTG group: the ones who did not report positive changes related to political repression (N = 98). The methods used: The first part of the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ-I), Lithuanian version (Mollica et al., 1992; Gailienė, Kazlauskas 2005); Lithuanian version of Trauma Symptom Checklist (TSC-35) (Gailienė, Kazlauskas, 2005); some questions were given: 1) about the traumatic experience of political repression and difficulties when returned home; 2) about the factors that helped to overcome difficult experience of repression; 3) about the positive aspects of traumatic experience of repression (Kazlauskas, 2006). Theoretical thematic analysis was used for analyzing the qualitative information (Braun, Clarke, 2006). The results revealed that experience of posttraumatic growth among political repression survivors in Lithuania corresponds to the theoretical model of PTG. It was also defined that personal strength is most commonly reported by political repression survivors. The results showed that two more aspects are common to PTG experience of political repression survivors: stronger patriotism, appreciation of homeland and freedom, and also a stronger believe in future and ability not to lose hope. It was also defined that posttraumatic growth is related to more intense traumatic experience, and that negative and positive outcomes of traumatic experience can exist in coherence. Those political repression survivors who report posttraumatic growth mention more factors that helped them to overcome difficult repression experience: they mention hope, spiritual strength, faith in God and other factors more often. |
