Date of Conferral
2022
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Psychology
Advisor
Charles Diebold
Abstract
Experiencing a traumatic event is a common occurrence within the world population. Researchers have found post-traumatic growth (PTG) occurs in individuals who grow, adapt, and change after experiencing a trauma. Through the lens of adaptation and neuroplasticity frameworks, cognitive flexibility and interoception can be regarded as forms of change and growth. However, scholarly literature was deficient in the investigation of the possible associations between interoception, cognitive flexibility, and PTG in individuals with histories of trauma. The purpose of this nonexperimental cross-sectional correlation study was to find the combined effect and relative importance of cognitive flexibility and interoception in accounting for variance in PTG. A sample of 138 adults with histories of traumas completed the Post Traumatic Growth Inventory—Short Form, the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (Version 2), and the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory. Regression analysis indicated that interoception and cognitive flexibility accounted for 35.8% of the variance in PTG, with interoception the strongest predictor uniquely accounting for 8.1%. This study contributes to positive social change by highlighting the relative importance of interoception and cognitive flexibility in growth and adaptation after trauma. Likewise, this study can lead to developing treatments based on interoceptive practices for individuals who develop prolonged symptoms and disorders after experiencing trauma.
Recommended Citation
Sattari, Sheaneh, "Investigation of the Relationship Between Interoception, Cognitive Flexibility, and Posttraumatic Growth" (2022). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 13756.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/13756
