Investigation of the Relationships between Post-Traumatic Growth, Intolerance to Uncertainty, and Psychological Inflexibility in Adults

Year 2024, , 78 - 87, 25.07.2024

Melike Sarıkoç , Erol Uğur

https://doi.org/10.32568/jfce.1489369

Abstract

The aim of this research is to examine the levels of post-traumatic growth, intolerance to uncertainty, and psychological inflexibility in adult individuals and to explain the nature of the relationship between them. The study is a quantitative research and was conducted using correlational research design. The Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory, Intolerance to Uncertainty Scale (12), Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), and Personal Information Form (PIF) were used in the research. The relationships between variables were examined using correlation, linear regression analysis, and t-test. A statistically significant and negative relationship was found between post-traumatic growth and both intolerance to uncertainty and psychological inflexibility; significant and positive relationship was found between post-traumatic growth and age. Additionally, it was found that intolerance to uncertainty and psychological inflexibility are significant predictors of post-traumatic growth.

Keywords

post-traumatic growth, intolerance to uncertainty, psychological inflexibility

References

• Acar, S. (2022). Psychological Flexibility as a Predictor of Coping Self-Efficacy Among University Students. International Journal of Educational Research, 13(3), 31-45.
• American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5™ (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Publishing.
• Aslan, Ş., & Turk, F. (2022). A comparison of cognitive flexibility and psychological flexibility concepts. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar, 14(1), 119-130.
• Büyüköztürk, Ş., Kılıç Çakmak, E., Akgün, Ö. E., Karadeniz, Ş., & Demirel, F. (2019). Research Methods in Science (27th ed.). Pegem Akademi Yayınları.
• Carleton, R. N. (2012). The intolerance of uncertainty construct in the context of anxiety disorders: Theoretical and practical perspectives. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 12(8), 937-947.
• Carleton, R. N., Norton, M. A. P. J., & Asmundson, G. J. G. (2007). Fearing the unknown: A short version of the intolerance of uncertainty scale. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 21(1), 105–117.
• Çimen, S. (2020). Does pain that doesn't kill make you stronger? The relationship between post-traumatic growth and collectivistic coping styles. Turkish Journal of Integrative Psychotherapy, 3(5), 158-174.
• Erguvan, F. M. (2015). Examination of university students' levels of intolerance of uncertainty and psychological well-being (Unpublished master's thesis). Sakarya University.
• Gökahmetoğlu, G. (2021). Examining the relationship between perceived social support and life purpose and post-traumatic growth. (Master's thesis, Istanbul Kent University Graduate Education Institute).
• Hayes, S. C., Bissett, R., Roget, N., Padilla, M., Kohlenberg, B. S., Fisher, G., ... & Niccolls, R. (2004). The impact of acceptance and commitment training and multicultural training on the stigmatizing attitudes and professional burnout of substance abuse counselors. Behavior Therapy, 35(4), 821-835.
• Horasanlı, H. Ş. (2023). The relationship between posttraumatic growth in the context of positive psychology, wisdomperception, and positive childhood experiences (Unpublished master's thesis). Ankara University. Ankara.
• Karasar, N. (2017). Scientific Research Method: Concepts, Principles, and Techniques (32nd ed.). Ankara: Nobel Yayınevi.
• Marks, N. F., & Lambert, J. D. (1998). Marital status continuity and change among young and midlife adults: Longitudinal effects on psychological well-being. Journal of Family Issues, 19(6), 652-686.
• Platte, S., Wiesmann, U., Tedeschi, R. G., Taku, K., & Kehl, D. (2023). A short form of the posttraumatic growth and posttraumatic depreciation inventory-expanded (PTGDI X-SF) among German adults. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 15(5), 838. Şakiroglu, M. (2019). Posttraumatic Growth among the 1999 Düzce Earthquake Survivors. International Journal of Psycho-Educational Sciences, 8(3), 61-72.
• Sarıçam, H., Erguvan, F. M., Akın, A., & Akça, M. Ş. (2014). Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (BTÖ-12) Turkish Form: Validity and reliability study. Route Educational and Social Science Journal, 1(3), 148-157.
• Seligman, M., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist, 55, 514.
• Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (2004). Posttraumatic growth: Conceptual foundations and empirical evidence. Psychological Inquiry, 15(1), 1-18.
• Türk, N., & Batmaz, H. (2023). Examination of the psychometric properties of short forms of posttraumatic growth and posttraumatic depreciation scales. Presented at the International Earthquake Symposium, Muş.
• Uğur, E., Kaya, Ç., & Tanhan, A. (2021). Psychological inflexibility mediates the relationship between fear of negative evaluation and psychological vulnerability. Current Psychology, 40(9), 4265-4277.
• Uludağ, E. (2023). Childhood negative life events, rumination, intolerance of uncertainty, and psychological rigidity as predictors of depression (Unpublished master's thesis). Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University. İstanbul.
• Yalom, I. D. (2023). When Nietzsche Wept. Istanbul: Ayrıntı Yayınları.
• Yavuz, K. F. (2015). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): An overview. Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Psychiatry Special Topics, 8(2), 21-27.
• Yavuz, F., Ulusoy, S., Işkın, M., Esen, F. B., Burhan, H. S., Karadere, M. E., & Yavuz, N. (2016). Turkish version of Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II): A reliability and validity analysis in clinical and nonclinical samples. Bulletin of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 26(4), 329-444.