OBJECTIVE:

Knowledge of longitudinal changes in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) may help survivors recover better. Yet, researchers dispute the population-based typologies of PTSD and PTG as well as the temporal transition between these subpopulations across time, especially among adolescents. Thus, the transition pattern still needs further research. Besides, parent-child factors (parenting styles, parent-child cohesion, and parental attachment styles) may influence the transition, but it keeps unclear. In the study, we aimed to solve these questions.

METHOD:

A three-wave investigation was conducted among 620 adolescents, 12 months, 21 months, and 27 months, after the Jiuzhaigou earthquake by using self-report measures on PTSD, PTG, and parent-child factors at the three time points. Finally, 339 of them finished the three-wave investigation.

RESULTS:

Latent profile analysis models showed that three heterogeneous classes of PTSD and PTG existed across time low-affected (low-level PTSD and PTG), thriving (low-level PTSD but high-level PTG), and struggling (high-level PTSD and PTG) groups. Random intercept latent transition analysis model suggested that samples mainly stayed in the original classes across time, with three main transitional paths from struggling group to thriving group, from thriving group to low-affected group, and from low-affected group to struggling group. Besides, the study also found that parental rejection, overprotection, and anxious attachment were the possible factors that kept the stability of the struggling group. Parent-child cohesion increased the stability of the thriving group across time. Anxious attachment may worsen PTSD among adolescents and lower the stability of low-affected groups across time.

CONCLUSIONS:

Coexisting and transitional patterns exist in PTSD and PTG across time. Wrong parenting styles and insecure attachments can exacerbate PTSD symptoms and diminish adolescents' resilience, but parent-child cohesion can facilitate their growth after trauma. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).