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The Up-Side of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Are Core Belief Violation and Meaning Making Associated with Post-Traumatic Growth?

Author

Listed:
  • Marco Castiglioni

    (Department of Human Sciences “R. Massa”, University of Milano Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy)

  • Cristina Liviana Caldiroli

    (Department of Human Sciences “R. Massa”, University of Milano Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy)

  • Rossella Procaccia

    (Faculty of Psychology, eCampus University, 22060 Novedrate, Italy)

  • Federica Conte

    (Department of Psychology, University of Milano Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy)

  • Robert A. Neimeyer

    (Portland Institute for Loss and Transition, Portland, OR 97223, USA)

  • Claudia Zamin

    (Italian Society of Relationship Psychoanalysis, 20135 Milano, Italy)

  • Anna Paladino

    (Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, 24129 Bergamo, Italy)

  • Attà Negri

    (Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, 24129 Bergamo, Italy)

Abstract

The negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health has been extensively documented, while its possible positive impact on the individual, defined as Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG), has been much less investigated. The present study examines the association between PTG and socio-demographic aspects, pre-pandemic psychological adjustment, stressors directly linked to COVID-19 and four psychological factors theoretically implicated in the change processes (core belief violation, meaning-making, vulnerability and mortality perception). During the second wave of the pandemic 680 medical patients completed an online survey on direct and indirect COVID-19 stressors, health and demographic information, post-traumatic growth, core belief violation, meaning-making capacity, feelings of vulnerability and perceptions of personal mortality. Violation of core beliefs, feelings of vulnerability and mortality, and pre-pandemic mental illness positively correlated with post-traumatic growth. Moreover, the diagnosis of COVID-19, stronger violation of core beliefs, greater meaning-making ability, and lower pre-existing mental illness predicted greater PTG. Finally, a moderating effect of meaning-making ability was found. The clinical implications were discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Marco Castiglioni & Cristina Liviana Caldiroli & Rossella Procaccia & Federica Conte & Robert A. Neimeyer & Claudia Zamin & Anna Paladino & Attà Negri, 2023. "The Up-Side of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Are Core Belief Violation and Meaning Making Associated with Post-Traumatic Growth?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(11), pages 1-16, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:11:p:5991-:d:1158736
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marco Castiglioni & Cristina Liviana Caldiroli & Attà Negri & Gian Mauro Manzoni & Rossella Procaccia, 2023. "Linguistic Predictors of Psychological Adjustment in Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-18, March.
    2. Altig, Dave & Baker, Scott & Barrero, Jose Maria & Bloom, Nicholas & Bunn, Philip & Chen, Scarlet & Davis, Steven J. & Leather, Julia & Meyer, Brent & Mihaylov, Emil & Mizen, Paul & Parker, Nicholas &, 2020. "Economic uncertainty before and during the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    3. Alessandro Gennaro & Matteo Reho & Tiziana Marinaci & Barbara Cordella & Marco Castiglioni & Cristina Liviana Caldiroli & Claudia Venuleo, 2023. "Social Environment and Attitudes toward COVID-19 Anti-Contagious Measures: An Explorative Study from Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-15, February.
    4. John E. Eze & Chuka Mike Ifeagwazi & JohnBosco Chika Chukwuorji, 2020. "Core Beliefs Challenge and Posttraumatic Growth: Mediating Role of Rumination Among Internally Displaced Survivors of Terror Attacks," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 659-676, February.
    5. Carmelo Vazquez & Carmen Valiente & Felipe E. García & Alba Contreras & Vanesa Peinado & Almudena Trucharte & Richard P. Bentall, 2021. "Post-Traumatic Growth and Stress-Related Responses During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a National Representative Sample: The Role of Positive Core Beliefs About the World and Others," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(7), pages 2915-2935, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Attà Negri & Arianna Barazzetti & Alice Rinzivillo & Rachele Mariani & Cinzia Di Monte, 2024. "Cognitive and Relational Processes Associated to Mental Health in Italian High School Students during COVID-19 and Russian–Ukrainian War Outbreaks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(4), pages 1-19, April.
    2. Arianna Barazzetti & Stefano Milesi & Attà Negri, 2024. "Exploring Factors Influencing COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Refusal: A Study in Italy during the Vaccine Rollout," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(3), pages 1-12, March.
    3. Arianna Barazzetti & Stefano Milesi & Francesca Giordano & Maria Chiara Noto & Attà Negri, 2025. "Family and Peer Support Facilitates Recall and Retelling of Traumatic Memories in War Refugee Children and Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(3), pages 1-18, February.

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