Date

9-19-2024

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Kristin Kellen

Keywords

posttraumatic growth (PTG), positive declarations, trauma, anxiety, depression, hope, Positive Communication Approach (PCA), ANCOVA, scripture

Disciplines

Communication | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Abstract

Research has explored the relationship between posttraumatic growth (PTG) and communication trends. Yet, there is a gap in research regarding how positive declarations of desired outcomes can influence PTG and be applied in a therapeutic context. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine if positive declarations of psychological growth facilitate PTG after trauma and impact levels of hope, anxiety, or depression. A small pilot study was conducted through six counseling sessions with participants (N = 16) divided into either the control (n = 8) or experimental group (n = 8). A novel Positive Communication Approach (PCA), distinguished by linguistic psychoeducation and use of positive declarations, was only implemented with the experimental group. Pretest-posttest data was collected using the SRGS-R, AHS, GAD-7, and PHQ-9 and analyzed by an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). ANCOVA results indicated no significant difference between group level for each research question. However, cumulative scores on all four questionnaires were higher for the experimental group than the control group, with a more substantial change noted for PTG and hope. The differences between clinical and statistical findings may be attributed to the study’s small sample size. Findings support existing literature regarding communication and PTG while providing an empirical source of support for scripture. Furthermore, PCA may be an effective therapeutic intervention for facilitating PTG by cultivating hope and expectation.

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