Posttraumatic growth, metacognitive beliefs, self-absorption and dysfunctional trauma-related attitudes in a sample of the Spanish general population

Background: The prevailing theoretical models of posttraumatic growth (PTG) are fundamentally cognitive. However, few studies have examined the relationship of PTG with metacognitive beliefs, self-focused attention and trauma-related attitudes toward the world and oneself. These cognitive constructs...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Sánchez Marqueses, José Manuel, Fausor De Castro, Rocío, Sanz García, Ana, García Vera, María de La Paz, Sanz Fernández, Jesús
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2022
País:España
Institución:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
Repositorio:Docta Complutense
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/94743
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/94743
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Posttraumatic growth
Metacognition
Self-focused attention
Dysfunctional attitudes
Self-absorption
Basic beliefs
Posttraumatic stress
Depression
Optimism
Crecimiento postraumático
Metacognición
Atención autofocalizada
Actitudes disfuncionales
Autoabsorción
Creencias básicas
Estrés postraumático
Depresión
Optimismo
Psicología (Psicología)
Personalidad
Psicología clínica y psicodiagnóstico
Psiquiatría
61 Psicología
6101.04 Psicopatología
6111 Personalidad
3201.05 Psicología Clínica
3211 Psiquiatría
Descripción
Sumario:Background: The prevailing theoretical models of posttraumatic growth (PTG) are fundamentally cognitive. However, few studies have examined the relationship of PTG with metacognitive beliefs, self-focused attention and trauma-related attitudes toward the world and oneself. These cognitive constructs might influence in the development of PTG. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship of PTG with dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs, dysfunctional self-focused attention (self-absorption), and dysfunctional trauma-related attitudes. Method: A sample of 250 adults (58.8% women; average age = 41.9 years) who had suffered a traumatic event in the past (on average, 14.5 years prior to the study) completed tests measuring those three cognitive constructs, symptoms of posttraumatic stress and depression, optimism, and PTG. Results: Multiple regression analyses revealed significant linear and inverted U-shaped relationships between some dimensions of PTG and negative beliefs about the uncontrollability and danger of worry, cognitive self-consciousness, private self-absorption, and dysfunctional traumatic attitudes related to chronification of distress. However, the variables that showed the greatest and most consistent relationships with PTG were the number of traumatic events suffered and posttraumatic stress symptomatology and, to a lesser extent, optimism and depressive symptomatology. Conclusion: The results highlight the important role that cognitive factors play in PTG. More specifically, the results underline the important role of people’s basic attitudes toward themselves and the world, as well as the role of self-focused attention and metacognitive beliefs. The results also support the hypothesis that a certain degree of emotional distress may be a necessary precondition for PTG.