Introduction
The article “Does Post-Traumatic Growth Follow Parental Death in Adulthood? An Empirical Investigation” by Komal Qasim and Jerome Carson delves into the realm of adult development, particularly within the framework of positive psychology. The core of this area, which serves as the basis for the historical background of the article, deals with human resources, health, and how persons who have been affected by disease or war may overcome challenges and still develop to their fullest abilities. In this regard, they place their research in contrast against such a backdrop, and they seek to understand what it means for people to be able to change and improve even after undergoing trauma. PTG theory is central in this study and is used as a base for studying the concepts mentioned above. The term PTG stands for a process through which people experience a major positive transformation of their psychology following exposure to trauma eventuation circumstances. It is not about going back to basics but gaining more strength, perspective, and an understanding of living itself. This idea is explored by this research study that focuses on adult children who have had a parent die.
It is an interesting and important hypothesis which was postulated by the study. Accordingly, it suggests that an adult with such a loss experience can exhibit PTG and possibly in a more intense manner after losing a parent. The passing of time could prove crucial in helping people in bereavement to achieve positive personal transformation. The study takes into account this perspective, aiming at developing an exquisite awareness of how loss experience and grief may trigger positive change over time, especially in cases where individuals grapple with trauma resulting from the passing away of their parents.
Methods
In the study “Does Post-Traumatic Growth Follow Parental Death in Adulthood?” the methods section outlines a clear and structured approach to investigate post-traumatic growth (PTG) in adults who have lost a parent. These mourning adults, who were of Pakistani and English descent, had lost their parents within the previous decade, making up a participant sample population of one hundred people. The targeting of this particular subgroup population was important for two reasons: firstly, to help understand how PTG works in people with varied cultures, and also because their losses were made within ten years, thus ensuring its freshness.
It employed systematic methods aimed at depicting all aspects of grief and growth experienced by the respondents. First, there were three separate but interlinked questionnaires that the participants had to go through. First, the use Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) instrument to assess the positive changes that arise after a traumatic incident. Growth is assessed by means of this inventory, and it indicates its quantity and manner in the bereaved people. The other questionnaire was the Adult Attitude Toward Grief Scale, which enabled the investigators to capture both the participants’ coping responses as well as their overall attitudes with respect to their grief. Lastly, a coping skills scale was used to rate the strategies people used to cope with loss and adaptation post-loss. The multi-dimensional approach that used the three different but related questionnaires enabled an understanding of the participants’ experience with bereavement, coping mechanisms, and possible PTG.
Results
In the results section of the study “Does Post-Traumatic Growth Follow Parental Death in Adulthood?”, the authors present their findings after employing rigorous statistical analysis. The main way of data analysis was the Mann-Whitney test is a non-parametric test that helps to find out whether differences exist or not between two independent groups. In particular, this choice of statistical procedure was particularly appropriate for the study design because it allowed for comparisons across participant groups with respect to their respective bereavement trajectories and PTG. However, the key findings of the study were quite revealing and somewhat surprising. The results, however, challenged the assertion that there was a relationship between the number of years lived after being bereaved and the extent of PTG experienced. It goes against the normative view, suggesting that the passage of time naturally leads to growth after such an incident as the bereavement of a parent. This means that time elapsed after such a loss could not predictably indicate how much one got positively altered psychologically.
Additional significant results emanated out of this research. Specifically, high PTG degrees do not cause smaller grief scores. Such cases only show that growing involves some degree of pain, for it is possible to achieve great personal growth even during a highly stressful period in one’s life. The result shows the complicated and multi-dimensional essence of mourning, where personal development and mourning do not simply negatively intersect but rather complement each other. Put together, these results provide insight into how people deal with and benefit from the death of a parent.
Discussion
In the discussion section of their study, the authors provided a thoughtful interpretation of the results, emphasizing the inherent unpredictability and inconsistency of post-traumatic growth (PTG) following the loss of a parent in adulthood. However, this admission is significant as it illustrates the intricacy involved in the grieving process and unique forms of maturity development after a traumatic experience. It was emphasized that there is no typical pattern of PTG, which cannot even be predicted by duration since the loss. The study was honest in presenting its limitations, especially emphasizing the drawbacks associated with a relatively small sample size and the fact that the participants were members of a particular category of population with certain characteristics. Such limitations highlight that the conclusions may not be very applicable to other cultural settings and different community groups. The recognition of limitations in this regard ensures that the case-control results are taken in the right manner, and it allows for the understanding of how far the findings relate elsewhere.
The authors also suggested directions for further investigation, focusing on the necessity of works using bigger and heterogeneous groups. The suggestion has been made to ensure better coverage, with diverse and heterogeneous sample participants for a wider perspective of PTG following loss. Future studies should increase the demographics and cultural variance amongst the participants and may consequently reveal more specific forms and differentiation in the process of PTG after losing a parent and ultimately promote a richer generalized meaning regarding the topic.
Conclusion
The study “Does Post-Traumatic Growth Follow Parental Death in Adulthood?” The a significant difference with respect to PTG occurrence and magnitude among adults who have lost their parents. This suggests that grief is not a monolithic phenomenon, as it is greatly affected by several factors. These findings indicate that although PTG can be a result of bereavement, it should not be portrayed as an inevitable impact. Therefore, the study adds insights into the complicated aspects of grief and transformation after a loss in a uniquely individual way.
Personal Reaction
The research presented in this study offers insightful perspectives on grieving, contrary to the typical conception that adverse occasions are inherently homogeneous forms of recovery. It points out that grieving is a personal matter and depends on one’s condition. Such a sophisticated understanding is particularly important in the field of adult development, as it acknowledges that not all adults react similarly to major life events. Therefore, this study highlights the complexity of psychological processes among adults and should embrace variety in mourning and development. This broadens our understanding of human adaptability.
References
Qasim, K., & Carson, J. (2022). Does Post-Traumatic Growth Follow Parental Death in Adulthood? An Empirical Investigation. OMEGA – Journal of Death and Dying, 86(1), 25-44. https://doi.org/10.1177/0030222820961956
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