“That Which Does Not Kill Us Makes Us Stronger” — Is That True?

Much attention has been paid to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other negative consequences of traumatic events. However, post-traumatic growth (PTG) — e.g., heightened appreciation of life and relationships, greater sense of personal strength and self-understanding, and positive spiritual changes — has also been described. These investigators examined the functional significance, types of trauma, and psychosocial factors associated with PTG in a nationally representative questionnaire study.

Of 3157 veterans (91% men; 76% white; mean age, 60; mean number of lifetime potentially traumatic events, 3.4), 2719 had a potentially traumatic event and provided information about PTG after the worst event. “Moderate” to “very great” PTG was…