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Hope, optimism, self‐efficacy, and posttraumatic stress disorder: A meta‐analytic review of the protective effects of positive expectancies
Author(s) -
Gallagher Matthew W.,
Long Laura J.,
Phillips Colleen A.
Publication year - 2020
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.22882
Subject(s) - optimism , psychology , psycinfo , clinical psychology , self efficacy , meta analysis , psychological resilience , coping (psychology) , posttraumatic stress , medline , psychotherapist , medicine , political science , law
Objective The present meta‐analysis consolidated research examining how positive expectancies (e.g., hope, self‐efficacy, and optimism) may protect against the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Method Articles were identified by searching PILOTS, PsycINFO, PubMed, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses databases. Results Aggregated results from 154 studies indicated that positive expectancies were associated with lower levels of PTSD symptoms. This relationship was stronger for coping‐specific self‐efficacy ( k = 38, r = −.49; −.54 to −.43) and hope ( k = 20, r = −.34; −.39 to −.28) compared with general self‐efficacy ( k = 45, r = −.25; −.30 to −.20) and optimism ( k = 59, r = −.29; −.33 to −.25) when examining cross‐sectional studies, and results were consistent in prospective studies. Age and gender did not moderate the cross‐sectional relationships. Conclusions These findings indicate that positive expectancies predict post‐trauma resilience. Future research should identify moderators and examine positive expectancies as mechanisms of change in therapy.