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Article
Posttraumatic growth in survivors of intimate partner violence: an assumptive world process.
Journal of Interpersonal Violence (2015)
  • Christine E. Valdez, Northern Illinois University
  • Michelle M. Lilly, Northern Illinois University
Abstract
Adverse consequences of intimate partner violence (IPV) are well documented, whereas less research has explored positive changes. Recent efforts indicate that survivors report posttraumatic growth (PTG), but the schema reconstruction hypothesis by which this is achieved is in need of further investigation. One model of PTG suggests that growth is triggered by trauma(s) that challenges an individual’s assumptive world. This threat promotes cognitive processing and schema reconstruction that fosters a sense of meaning and value in one’s life. As schema change is posited as the main cognitive antecedent of PTG, a longitudinal assessment of world assumptions was used to examine whether assumption change predicts PTG in IPV survivors. Results indicate that world assumptions became more positive 1 year after an initial interview but only for women who had not been revictimized in the year between study assessments. Furthermore, positive world assumption change was associated with greater PTG scores. Implications for intervention and research are discussed.
Keywords
  • posttraumatic growth,
  • intimate partner violence,
  • world assumptions,
  • schema change
Disciplines
Publication Date
2015
DOI
10.1177/0886260514533154
Citation Information
Christine E. Valdez and Michelle M. Lilly. "Posttraumatic growth in survivors of intimate partner violence: an assumptive world process." Journal of Interpersonal Violence Vol. 30 Iss. 2 (2015) p. 215 - 231
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/christine-valdez/12/