Coping Strategies and Post Traumatic Growth in Paramedics: Moderating Effect of Specific Self Efficacy and Positive/negative Affectivity
Coping Strategies and Post Traumatic Growth in Paramedics: Moderating Effect of Specific Self Efficacy and Positive/Negative AffectivityThe experts have associated experiencing various difficult life events and situations with negative effects that naturally follow, even though people may as a result quite possibly grow in the psychological, emotional and spiritual aspect.In the literature, the terms for positive consequences that subsequently arise from negative life experiences are labelled as perceiving, construing, or finding benefits (Affleck Tennen, 1996; Antoni et al. 2001 McMillen et al. 1995; Tennen et al. 1992) thriving (Abraido Lanza et al. 1998; O'Leary Ickovics, 1995) positive changes in outlook (Joseph et al. 1993) adversarial growth (Linley Joseph, 2004) stress related growth (Park et al. 1996) flourishing (Ryff Singer, 1998) positive by products (McMillen, Howard, Nower, Chung, 2001) and positive psychological changes (Yalom Lieberman, 1991) One of the most accepted phrases used in the literature is posttraumatic growth (PTG) which was originally coined by Tedeschi and Calhoun (1995, 1996) PTG is defined as "positive psychological change experienced as a result of the struggle with highly challenging life circumstances" (p. 1; Tedeschi Calhoun, 2004).Models of Post Traumatic GrowthIn their overview of the PTG literature, Park and Helgeson (2006) ask if PTG is best understood as a process or an outcome. Many different theoretical models have been developed to answer this question (Bhushan Hussain, 2007; Joseph Linley, 2006; Zoellner Maercker, 2006) Models that highlight the recuperation process from a traumatic event include the self strengthening assessment or the creation of positive illusions (Taylor, 1983) extended model of a coping process (Davis, Nolen Hoeksema, Larson, 1998; Park Folkman, 1997) or an outcome in its own right (Joseph Linley, 2005; Tedeschi Calhoun, 2004) Each type of model has different implications for the methods used to conduct research. Investigators who view PTG as a coping process or a positive illusion will examine how PTG affects other psychological and physical outcomes without considering growth to be an outcome itself. PTG becomes an independent variable and other health outcomes (e.g. depression, quality of life, treatment recovery) are dependent variables. In contrast to process models, outcome models identify PTG as the dependent variable and examine other aspects of health as independent variables related to PTG. Outcome models are the most widely accepted in the literature because of their comprehensive nature (Park Helgeson, 2006; Tedeschi Calhoun, 2004) For example, Tedeschi and Calhoun's (1995, 1996, 2004) functional descriptive model (FDM) retains many of the fundamental theoretical constructs present in literature while also correcting the weaknesses of other outcome models. Their model provides the most comprehensive framework for variables and processes related to PTG, as well as a detailed understanding of the components of PTG itself. FDM contains many variables, the most important are: post traumatic personality, seismic event, rumination, selfdisclosure, social support, sociocultural influences, PTG, wisdom. In FDM, PTG is defined as a significant positive in the cognitive and emotional life of an individual that may have external manifestations in one's behavior. Development is understood as a change, in which an individual advances to a higher level of his/her current adaptation, psychological functioning and overall understanding of life (Tedeschi, Park, Calhoun, 1998) Development can still coexist with residual distress that has been caused by a traumatic event.Model of life crises and personal growth by Schaefer Moos, (1992) outlines a process where 1) personal and environmental systems influence 2) the experience of life crises in the aftermath of trauma, which 3) affects cognitive reappraisals and coping responses, and thereby 4) results in positive outcomes.