title: Posttraumatic Growth After Motor Vehicle Crashes.
abstract: The relationship between sub-dimensions of posttraumatic growth (PTG) and distress was investigated for survivors of motor vehicle crashes (MVC). PTG and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for 1045 MVC survivors who attended the Accident and Emergency Services were examined with the Chinese versions of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised 1 week after the experience of a MVC. A factor structure, which was different from both the original English version of the PTGI and the Chinese version of PTGI for cancer survivors, was identified. Factors extracted were: (1) Life and Self Appreciation; (2) New Commitments; (3) Enlightenment; and (4) Relating to Others. However, correlation analyses indicated a functional similarity between factors from this study and those from previous studies. Relations between PTG sub-dimensions and PTSD symptoms were identified. Results from hierarchical multiple regression analysis and structural equation modeling show that there were different predictors for different PTG sub-dimensions. Findings suggest that different modes of relationship between PTSD symptoms and PTG sub-dimensions may co-exist.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Psychology Services, Kwai Chung Hospital, 3-15 Kwai Chung Hospital Road, New Territories, Hong Kong, China. wukyk@ha.org.hk.
authors.forename: Kitty K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Patrick W L
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Caritas Medical Centre, 111 Wing Hong Street, Shamshuipo, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Valda W
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Centre of Quantitative Medicine, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Lawrence S C
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Law
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000523:psychology*; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; D017741:Survivors
keywords: Adjustment disorder; Anxiety; Civilian trauma; Resilience; Road traffic accident