Measuring a new facet of post traumatic growth: Development of a scale of physical post traumatic growth in men with prostate cancer

This study developed a measure of physical post traumatic growth (physical post traumatic growth inventory; P-PTGI) in men with prostate cancer.

A pool of items was created from themes identified in a qualitative study. A quantitative study was then conducted to assess the psychometric properties of the P-PTGI in a sample of 693 prostate cancer survivors.

Tests of dimensionality revealed that the 20-item P-PTGI contained two factors: Health Autonomy and Health Awareness. Results demonstrated that scale score reliability for the P-PTGI and its subscales was excellent. In support of the scale's convergent validity, scores on the P-PTGI correlated positively with mindfulness and quality of life, and correlated negatively with depression and anxiety. A statistically significant correlation between the P-PTGI and another robust indicator of post traumatic growth attests to its concurrent validity.

While further investigation of the P-PTGI's psychometric properties is required, preliminary findings are promising.

PloS one. 2018 Apr 27*** epublish ***

Deirdre M J Walsh, Ann Marie Groarke, Todd G Morrison, Garrett Durkan, Eamonn Rogers, Francis J Sullivan

School of Psychology, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland., University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada., National Cancer Control Programme, Saolta University Healthcare Group, Galway, Ireland.