{"id":{"repo_id":"qu-belfast","oai_identifier":"oai:pure.qub.ac.uk/portal:studenttheses/2231568d-335f-4b99-9ed0-cddaaf20e749"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/qu-belfast/oai:pure.qub.ac.uk/portal:studenttheses/2231568d-335f-4b99-9ed0-cddaaf20e749","repository":{"repo_id":"qu-belfast","name":"Queen's University Belfast","base_url":"https://pureadmin.qub.ac.uk/ws/oai"},"display":{"title":"Predictors of posttraumatic growth","abstract":"This research portfolio, submitted in part fulfillment for the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, contains a systematic literature review, and a large-scale research project. Both papers were prepared for submission to peer-reviewed journals. The individual paper abstracts are detailed below.
(i) Abstract of Systematic Review:
Posttraumatic growth refers to positive psychological changes occurring following exposure to traumatising life events. Attachment styles have been demonstrated to predict post-trauma outcomes. The present review explored the relationship between attachment styles and posttraumatic growth via meta-analytic review of 16 studies, examining the relationship between posttraumatic growth and secure, dismissive, preoccupied, and fearful attachment styles. Four correlational meta-analyses revealed a significant small positive relationship between secure attachment and posttraumatic growth (r= .22, p<.001); a significant small negative relationship between dismissive attachment and posttraumatic growth (r=-.12, p<.001), an extremely weak relationship between preoccupied attachment and posttraumatic growth (r=.01, p=.85), and a significant small positive relationship between fearful attachment and posttraumatic growth (r=.11, p<.05). Findings provide useful information for clinicians regarding the potential impact of attachment style following traumatising exposure, and have implications for psychological assessment, formulation, and intervention goal-setting.
(ii) Abstract of large-scale research project:
Objective:
This study examined a model of predictors of posttraumatic growth in a sample of 85 trauma-exposed adults. It sought to establish the predictive relationship between posttraumatic stress and growth, and whether this was impacted by trauma-related factors (trauma typology, time since most distressing trauma), demographic characteristics (age, gender and number of psychological therapy sessions) and trauma appraisals (betrayal, self-blame, fear, alienation, anger and shame).
Method: A quantitative survey methodology was employed in this cross-sectional study. Participants were 56 males and 28 females, with a mean age of 48.26 years, recruited from psychological support services in Northern Ireland. Participants had experienced an average of 4.11 traumatising events.
Results:
Hierarchical multiple regression modelling was used to analyse predictors. This demonstrated that the number of psychological therapy sessions participants had attended ( = .33, p = .009) and betrayal-based trauma appraisals ( = .47, p = .001) were positive predictors of posttraumatic growth. Shame-based appraisals negatively predicted posttraumatic growth ( = -.42, p = .020). In the final model, posttraumatic stress, trauma-related factors, age, gender, and four of the six trauma appraisals were non-significant predictors.
Conclusion:
The predictive relationship between posttraumatic stress and growth may be better explained by the number of psychological therapy sessions the participant has had, and appraisals of betrayal and shame.","abstract_html":"This research portfolio, submitted in part fulfillment for the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, contains a systematic literature review, and a large-scale research project. Both papers were prepared for submission to peer-reviewed journals. The individual paper abstracts are detailed below.<br/><br/>(i) Abstract of Systematic Review: <br/>Posttraumatic growth refers to positive psychological changes occurring following exposure to traumatising life events. Attachment styles have been demonstrated to predict post-trauma outcomes. The present review explored the relationship between attachment styles and posttraumatic growth via meta-analytic review of 16 studies, examining the relationship between posttraumatic growth and secure, dismissive, preoccupied, and fearful attachment styles. Four correlational meta-analyses revealed a significant small positive relationship between secure attachment and posttraumatic growth (r= .22, p<.001); a significant small negative relationship between dismissive attachment and posttraumatic growth (r=-.12, p<.001), an extremely weak relationship between preoccupied attachment and posttraumatic growth (r=.01, p=.85), and a significant small positive relationship between fearful attachment and posttraumatic growth (r=.11, p<.05). Findings provide useful information for clinicians regarding the potential impact of attachment style following traumatising exposure, and have implications for psychological assessment, formulation, and intervention goal-setting. <br/><br/>(ii) Abstract of large-scale research project: <br/>Objective:<br/>This study examined a model of predictors of posttraumatic growth in a sample of 85 trauma-exposed adults. It sought to establish the predictive relationship between posttraumatic stress and growth, and whether this was impacted by trauma-related factors (trauma typology, time since most distressing trauma), demographic characteristics (age, gender and number of psychological therapy sessions) and trauma appraisals (betrayal, self-blame, fear, alienation, anger and shame). <br/>Method: A quantitative survey methodology was employed in this cross-sectional study. Participants were 56 males and 28 females, with a mean age of 48.26 years, recruited from psychological support services in Northern Ireland. Participants had experienced an average of 4.11 traumatising events. <br/><br/>Results:<br/>Hierarchical multiple regression modelling was used to analyse predictors. This demonstrated that the number of psychological therapy sessions participants had attended ( = .33, p = .009) and betrayal-based trauma appraisals ( = .47, p = .001) were positive predictors of posttraumatic growth. Shame-based appraisals negatively predicted posttraumatic growth ( = -.42, p = .020). In the final model, posttraumatic stress, trauma-related factors, age, gender, and four of the six trauma appraisals were non-significant predictors. <br/><br/>Conclusion:<br/>The predictive relationship between posttraumatic stress and growth may be better explained by the number of psychological therapy sessions the participant has had, and appraisals of betrayal and shame.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Gleeson, Amanda"],"institution":"Queen's University Belfast","degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy","degree_level":"Doctoral Thesis","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Hanna, Donncha","Curran, David"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2020,"date_issued":"2020-12","date_published":"2020-12","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:55:31Z","subjects":["Posttraumatic Growth","Trauma","Attachment","Adults"],"languages":["eng"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["oai:pure.qub.ac.uk/portal:studenttheses/2231568d-335f-4b99-9ed0-cddaaf20e749"],"render_values":[{"text":"oai:pure.qub.ac.uk/portal:studenttheses/2231568d-335f-4b99-9ed0-cddaaf20e749","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/2231568d-335f-4b99-9ed0-cddaaf20e749","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Hanna, Donncha","Curran, David"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Gleeson, Amanda"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["2020-12"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2020-12"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.department","label":"Dc Publisher Department","values":["School of Psychology"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.institution","label":"Dc Publisher Institution","values":["Queen's University Belfast"]},{"key":"dc:relation.isreferencedby","label":"Dc Relation Isreferencedby","values":["https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/2231568d-335f-4b99-9ed0-cddaaf20e749"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationlevel","label":"Dc Type Qualificationlevel","values":["Doctoral Thesis"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationname","label":"Dc Type Qualificationname","values":["Doctor of Philosophy"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Posttraumatic Growth","Trauma","Attachment","Adults"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["eng"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["oai:pure.qub.ac.uk/portal:studenttheses/2231568d-335f-4b99-9ed0-cddaaf20e749","https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/2231568d-335f-4b99-9ed0-cddaaf20e749"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://pure.qub.ac.uk/files/217339268/Predictors_of_Posttraumatic_Growth.pdf"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This research portfolio, submitted in part fulfillment for the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, contains a systematic literature review, and a large-scale research project. Both papers were prepared for submission to peer-reviewed journals. The individual paper abstracts are detailed below.
(i) Abstract of Systematic Review:
Posttraumatic growth refers to positive psychological changes occurring following exposure to traumatising life events. Attachment styles have been demonstrated to predict post-trauma outcomes. The present review explored the relationship between attachment styles and posttraumatic growth via meta-analytic review of 16 studies, examining the relationship between posttraumatic growth and secure, dismissive, preoccupied, and fearful attachment styles. Four correlational meta-analyses revealed a significant small positive relationship between secure attachment and posttraumatic growth (r= .22, p<.001); a significant small negative relationship between dismissive attachment and posttraumatic growth (r=-.12, p<.001), an extremely weak relationship between preoccupied attachment and posttraumatic growth (r=.01, p=.85), and a significant small positive relationship between fearful attachment and posttraumatic growth (r=.11, p<.05). Findings provide useful information for clinicians regarding the potential impact of attachment style following traumatising exposure, and have implications for psychological assessment, formulation, and intervention goal-setting.
(ii) Abstract of large-scale research project:
Objective:
This study examined a model of predictors of posttraumatic growth in a sample of 85 trauma-exposed adults. It sought to establish the predictive relationship between posttraumatic stress and growth, and whether this was impacted by trauma-related factors (trauma typology, time since most distressing trauma), demographic characteristics (age, gender and number of psychological therapy sessions) and trauma appraisals (betrayal, self-blame, fear, alienation, anger and shame).
Method: A quantitative survey methodology was employed in this cross-sectional study. Participants were 56 males and 28 females, with a mean age of 48.26 years, recruited from psychological support services in Northern Ireland. Participants had experienced an average of 4.11 traumatising events.
Results:
Hierarchical multiple regression modelling was used to analyse predictors. This demonstrated that the number of psychological therapy sessions participants had attended ( = .33, p = .009) and betrayal-based trauma appraisals ( = .47, p = .001) were positive predictors of posttraumatic growth. Shame-based appraisals negatively predicted posttraumatic growth ( = -.42, p = .020). In the final model, posttraumatic stress, trauma-related factors, age, gender, and four of the six trauma appraisals were non-significant predictors.
Conclusion:
The predictive relationship between posttraumatic stress and growth may be better explained by the number of psychological therapy sessions the participant has had, and appraisals of betrayal and shame."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Predictors of posttraumatic growth"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Hanna, Donncha","Curran, David"],"dc:creator":["Gleeson, Amanda"],"dc:date":["2020-12"],"dc:date.issued":["2020-12"],"dc:description.abstract":["This research portfolio, submitted in part fulfillment for the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, contains a systematic literature review, and a large-scale research project. Both papers were prepared for submission to peer-reviewed journals. The individual paper abstracts are detailed below.
(i) Abstract of Systematic Review:
Posttraumatic growth refers to positive psychological changes occurring following exposure to traumatising life events. Attachment styles have been demonstrated to predict post-trauma outcomes. The present review explored the relationship between attachment styles and posttraumatic growth via meta-analytic review of 16 studies, examining the relationship between posttraumatic growth and secure, dismissive, preoccupied, and fearful attachment styles. Four correlational meta-analyses revealed a significant small positive relationship between secure attachment and posttraumatic growth (r= .22, p<.001); a significant small negative relationship between dismissive attachment and posttraumatic growth (r=-.12, p<.001), an extremely weak relationship between preoccupied attachment and posttraumatic growth (r=.01, p=.85), and a significant small positive relationship between fearful attachment and posttraumatic growth (r=.11, p<.05). Findings provide useful information for clinicians regarding the potential impact of attachment style following traumatising exposure, and have implications for psychological assessment, formulation, and intervention goal-setting.
(ii) Abstract of large-scale research project:
Objective:
This study examined a model of predictors of posttraumatic growth in a sample of 85 trauma-exposed adults. It sought to establish the predictive relationship between posttraumatic stress and growth, and whether this was impacted by trauma-related factors (trauma typology, time since most distressing trauma), demographic characteristics (age, gender and number of psychological therapy sessions) and trauma appraisals (betrayal, self-blame, fear, alienation, anger and shame).
Method: A quantitative survey methodology was employed in this cross-sectional study. Participants were 56 males and 28 females, with a mean age of 48.26 years, recruited from psychological support services in Northern Ireland. Participants had experienced an average of 4.11 traumatising events.
Results:
Hierarchical multiple regression modelling was used to analyse predictors. This demonstrated that the number of psychological therapy sessions participants had attended ( = .33, p = .009) and betrayal-based trauma appraisals ( = .47, p = .001) were positive predictors of posttraumatic growth. Shame-based appraisals negatively predicted posttraumatic growth ( = -.42, p = .020). In the final model, posttraumatic stress, trauma-related factors, age, gender, and four of the six trauma appraisals were non-significant predictors.
Conclusion:
The predictive relationship between posttraumatic stress and growth may be better explained by the number of psychological therapy sessions the participant has had, and appraisals of betrayal and shame."],"dc:identifier":["oai:pure.qub.ac.uk/portal:studenttheses/2231568d-335f-4b99-9ed0-cddaaf20e749","https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/2231568d-335f-4b99-9ed0-cddaaf20e749"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://pure.qub.ac.uk/files/217339268/Predictors_of_Posttraumatic_Growth.pdf"],"dc:language":["eng"],"dc:publisher.department":["School of Psychology"],"dc:publisher.institution":["Queen's University Belfast"],"dc:relation.isreferencedby":["https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/2231568d-335f-4b99-9ed0-cddaaf20e749"],"dc:subject":["Posttraumatic Growth","Trauma","Attachment","Adults"],"dc:title":["Predictors of posttraumatic growth"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"dc:type.qualificationlevel":["Doctoral Thesis"],"dc:type.qualificationname":["Doctor of Philosophy"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:55:31Z"}