Abstract

The study evaluated the contribution of war, trauma, and optimism on growth in adult Liberian former displaced persons traumatized by war-related experiences
(N = 444). Hypotheses based on existing literature grounded the path model assessing the relationship among war-related events, trauma, optimism and post-traumatic growth. There were statistically significant correlations among all variables, except between war-related events and optimism [χ²(1) = 0.90; p > .05; CFI = 1.00; GFI = .99; SRMR = 0.02; RMSEA = 0.00]. Clinicians are encouraged to identify resources that traumatized populations use in coping, and incorporate them within the therapeutic environment.

Keywords

References

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