Posttraumatic Growth: A Comprehensive Evaluation of the Recently Revised Model

For the last 30 years, the conceptualization studies of posttraumatic growth (PTG) which refer to the positive changes as a result of the struggle with adverse events, have been continuously evolving with new findings. In line with this empirical evidence, Tedeschi and colleagues have proposed a revised model in which PTG is accepted both as a process and an outcome. The roles of the concepts such as wisdom, resilience, socio-cultural factors are explained better. As the ultimate aim of the model, the authors suggest reaching the dimensions of PTG not hedonistic happiness or well-being. This new model include, gaining the wisdom that comes with the existing stress, possessing the newly achieved problem-solving repertoire, and also re-structuring new-life narratives, meaning of life and flexible schemas. Furthermore, the latest research has provided us the evidence that, in the process of PTG, paradoxically both positive (PTG) and negative changes (Posttraumatic Depreciaton) are experienced together. But even though the difference is small, positive changes are consistently found to be greater. The aim of this paper is to describe the revised model with the latest empirical findings and provide a literature review with implications for clinical practice.