Posttraumatic growth: cognitive processes and emotion in cancer patients narrative accounts

Lately there’s an increased interest in debate on posttraumatic growth’s nature (PTG): reality or illusion? (Sumalla, 2009). Tedeschi & Calhoun (2004) suggest to look into the role of cognitive processes and emotion associated with trauma in autobiographical narratives. The aim of this research is verify the existence of different narrative accounts of PTG in a group of cancer patients (N=30). Narrative accounts were analyzed by two different coding systems: Life story model of identity (McAdams, 2001) and Summed emotion model (Pennabaker & Francis, 1996). 44% showed PTG; 33% used more negative emotions, 17% used more positive emotions and 50% used both positive and negative emotion. Consistently with Pennabaker & Francis’ model (1996) cognitive processes were more in group characterized by balanced use of positive and negative emotion (M=32; SD=13,65) (real growth) and cognitive processes are less in group characterized by greater use of positive emotions (M=18; SD=12,73) (illusory growth).