You have full access to this open access article. The Sierra Leonean population has faced severe collective traumata e. Across many cultures individuals experience PTG. However, the nature of PTG might be influenced by cultural factors. This study aimed to explore PTG in a Sierra Leonean sample using a convergent parallel mixed methods design.
The qualitative study identified emergent PTG themes. In sum, adults reported on their worst experience and completed the PTGI-X; Additionally, 20 participants took part in in-depth interviews. A one-factor model including 17 items was supported by confirmatory factor analysis.
That means, in addition to a personal positive transformation, a social transformation was revealed. The findings indicated that an individualistic measurement such as the PTGI-X falls short to examine growth dimensions in non-Western cultures.
A broader definition of PTG might foster the integration of different cultural and collective elements that emerge in response to stressful events. The West African country Sierra Leone is a crisis-ridden country. The population of Sierra Leone faced collective traumata civil war, Ebola , i. The year civil war lasted until and was one of the most violent post-colonial conflicts on the African continent.
The RUF rebels targeted people of every ethnic group throughout the countryβin this war neither ethnic nor religious divisions played a role ibid. In addition to the war atrocities and the devastation of the basic fabric of society, the epidemic virus of Ebola affected the country between and WHO, Just before the war, Sierra Leone had the second lowest living standard of any country in the world United Nations, It is well known that the exposure to highly stressful and traumatic events such as war and terrorism can lead to the development of severe and chronic psychological problems e.
