Exposure to trauma can, in addition to negative, also lead to positive changes in their lives, most often in the form of posttraumatic growth (PTG). Factors that determine the occurrence of posttraumatic growth include resilience and rumination.
The aim of the study was to check whether resilience and ruminations related to the experienced traumatic event are associated with PTG assessed at two time points (second measurement after 6 months). Moreover, it was checked whether ruminations act as mediator in relationship between resilience and PTG. The analysis included the results of 242 people aged 12-17 (M = 14.65; SD = 1.28): 119 boys (49.2%) and 123 girls (50.8%). The study used the Personal Growth Questionnaire – KOW-27, the Resilience Measurement Scale SPP-18 and the Rumination Inventory ERRI.
Resilience and reflective ruminations are positively associated only with PTG from the first measurement. Moreover, the results of the mediation analysis indicate that reflective ruminations play the role of a weak mediator of the relationship between resilience and PTG from the first measurement.
The obtained results suggest that resilience may play an important role in the occurrence of positive changes after trauma, but it does not affect the long-term maintenance of posttraumatic growth (PTG). Reflective ruminations play a slightly smaller role, which also promote the occurrence of positive posttraumatic changes, but only in the short period after the trauma.