Date of Conferral

2018

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Charles T. Diebold

Abstract

The transformative process of personal growth following suffering and challenges, or posttraumatic growth (PTG), is limited in persons with acquired disability. The dimensions of acquired disability, as outlined by the World Health Organization, include impairments in body functions, body structures, and growth restrictions in activities and participation. The 5 domains of PTG include personal strength, new possibilities, relating to other people, appreciation of life, and spiritual change. Using discriminant function analysis, the purpose of this quantitative study was to identify a discriminant analysis of the dimensions of acquired disability on the domains of posttraumatic growth. The first research question focused on investigating the number of statistically significant uncorrelated linear combinations. The second research question reviewed the multivariate profile (or profiles if there is more than one statistically significant function) of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory domains that discriminant the dimensions of acquired disability. A cross-sectional survey design was used to gather data from 161 individuals with acquired disability who were over 18 years of age and were at least 1 year postdiagnosis. Participants were invited to participate using a Facebook page and targeted advertising, as well as personal invitations to online support groups advocating for persons with acquired disability. This study and analysis only found 1 significant pairwise connection between impairment in body structure and growth, activity, and participation with the PTG domain of personal strength. Results may be used to guide the planning and implementation of aftercare programs for individuals diagnosed with an acquired disability to help promote PTG.

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