title: Post-traumatic growth enhances social identification in liver transplant patients: A longitudinal study.
abstract: The main aim of this paper is to investigate the prediction that greater subjective identification with relevant groups and social categories (i.e. 'family' and 'transplantees') can be an outcome of post-traumatic growth (PTG). To date there are no studies that have explored these relationships.
  
  
  
  A longitudinal study was conducted with a group of 100 liver transplant patients from the outpatient populations of the participating centre. Data were collected by means of a self-report questionnaire, which was completed at two different time points (T1 and T2) that were 24months apart. PTG was assessed using the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory, while both transplantee and family identification were assessed using group identification scales. A path model was tested, using a structural equation model (SEM) approach, to examine the reciprocal effects among family identification, transplantee identification, and PTG over time.
  
  
  
  As predicted, we found that greater PTG T1 predicted both greater family identification T2 and marginally greater transplantee identification T2. However, the two identification variables did not predict PTG over time.
  
  
  
  The results show that family identification and transplantee identification may be outcomes of the PTG process, confirming the importance of adopting a thriving multidimensional model of adjustment to medical illness, whereby people facing adverse life events, such as transplantation, may flourish rather than deteriorate psychologically.
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy.
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Scrignaro
authors: School of Psychology, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK.
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Sani
authors: Division of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, England, UK.
authors: Juliet Ruth Helen
authors: JR
authors: Wakefield
authors: Clinical Psychology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy. Electronic address: elisabetta.bianchi@istitutotumori.mi.it.
authors: Elisabetta
authors: E
authors: Bianchi
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy.
authors: Maria Elena
authors: ME
authors: Magrin
authors: Clinical Psychology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Gangeri
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005195:Family Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000067073:Psychological Trauma / Q000523:psychology*; D057566:Self Report; D012933:Social Identification; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cancer; Post-traumatic growth; Social identification; Social identity; Transplant