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The relationship between personal growth and psychological functioning in individuals treated in a partial hospital setting
Author(s) -
Danitz Sara B.,
Orsillo Susan M.,
Beard Courtney,
Björgvinsson Thröstur
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/jclp.22627
Subject(s) - psychology , personal development , clinical psychology , partial hospitalization , developmental psychology , psychotherapist , mental health
Objectives We examined whether current level of personal growth and changes in personal growth predicted treatment response among participants in a partial hospital setting. Method Patients ( N = 269; aged 18–70 years, M = 33.6; 52.4% female) completed measures of personal growth initiative (PGI), valuing personal growth (VPG), and psychological functioning measures at treatment admission and discharge from a partial hospital. Results PGI and VPG were negatively associated with depression and positively associated with psychological well‐being. Baseline PGI and VPG did not predict changes in psychological functioning at discharge. PGI and VPG significantly increased following treatment, and increases were associated with decreases in depression and increases in well‐being over and above previously established predictors. Conclusions Valuing personal growth for intrinsic reasons and active engagement in the personal growth process may be important characteristics to cultivate in psychotherapy as they are malleable and negatively related to depression.