Latent Structure of Posttraumatic Growth and its Temporal Stability Among a Sample of Chinese Children Following an Earthquake

Xiao Zhou, Xinchun Wu () and Rui Zhen
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Xiao Zhou: Beijing Normal University
Xinchun Wu: Beijing Normal University
Rui Zhen: Beijing Normal University

Child Indicators Research, 2017, vol. 10, issue 4, No 14, 1134 pages

Abstract: Abstract Since the introduction of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), the factor structure of PTG has been a hot topic of debate. Nevertheless, no consensus has been achieved to date. Previous researchers have focused mainly on adults, such that the applicability of this measure to traumatized children remains rather unclear. Although several studies have suggested that time since trauma might influence PTG factor structure, no study has examined the stability of the factor structure of PTG over time. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the factor structure of PTG among traumatized children following the Ya’an earthquake, and to specifically examine PTG optimal factor structure over time. Self-report scales were administered to 303 children, 6 months after the earthquake. A five-factor structure of PTG that includes relating to others, new possibilities, personal strength, spiritual changes, and appreciation of life had the best fit indices among all five structural models of PTG examined. The five factor structure of PTG satisfied the factor loading invariance criterion but did not satisfy the item intercept and factor variance invariance criteria. This study extends the extant literature on the five factor structure of PTG from adults to a child sample and confirms that the five factor structure is stable across time, but that PTG scores are indeed moderated by time since trauma. Implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed along with study limitations.

Keywords: Children; PTG; Factor structure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1007/s12187-016-9441-8

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