title: Stressful Life Events and Predictors of Post-traumatic Growth among High-Risk Early Emerging Adults.
abstract: Stressful life events (SLEs) may elicit positive psychosocial change among youth, referred to as Post-traumatic Growth (PTG). We assessed types of SLEs experienced, degree to which participants reported PTG, and variables predicting PTG across 24 months among a sample of high risk, ethnically diverse early emerging adults. Participants were recruited from alternative high schools (n= 564; mean age=16.8; 65% Hispanic). Multi-level regression models were constructed to examine the impact of environmental (SLE quantity, severity) and personal factors (hedonic ability, perceived stress, developmental stage, future time orientation) on a composite score of PTG. The majority of participants reported positive changes resulted from their most life-altering SLE of the past two years. Predictors of PTG included fewer SLEs, less general stress, having a future time perspective, and greater identification with the developmental stage of Emerging Adulthood. Findings suggest intervention targets to foster positive adaptation among early emerging adults who experience frequent SLEs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Thalida E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Arpawong
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Louise A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Rohrbach
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Joel E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Milam
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Land
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spruijt-Metz
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA ; Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sussman
keywords: Hispanic; Post-traumatic Growth; adolescents; alternative high school; emerging adulthood; future time orientation; resilience; stressful life events