title: Exploring posttraumatic growth in Tamil children affected by the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004.
abstract: Few studies explore posttraumatic growth (PTG) in children from Eastern cultures. To help address this gap, the present study examined PTG among 177 South Indian children aged 8-17 years who were affected by the 2004 Tsunami. The study identifies the underlying factor structure of the Tamil version of the Revised Posttraumatic Growth Inventory for Children (PTGI-C-R), and aims to explore the prevalence of PTG, the relationship between distress and growth, and gender and age differences in PTG. The results of the principal component analysis indicated a two-factor structure with an interpersonal and a person-centred dimension of growth. The total scores of the Tamil PTGI-C-R were positively associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and age. Moreover, there was a significant relationship between age and the person-centred growth subscale. Non-parametric tests found no gender differences in perceived growth. The role of socio-cultural factors on the nature of PTG is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Exenberger
authors.affiliation: UGC-Academic Staff College, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Panch
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ramalingam
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Höfer
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D044466:Asian People; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D019156:Indian Ocean; D008297:Male; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017741:Survivors; D057192:Tsunamis
keywords: Children; Culture; PTGI-C-R; Posttraumatic growth; Tamil version