Uncovering Key Predictors to Posttraumatic Growth: How Do Turkish University Students Overcome Traumatic Experiences

Objective: This study aimed to identify predictors of posttraumatic growth (PTG) among Turkish university students with a history of trauma based on the theoretical model. The research focused on three primary predictors, core belief disruption, coping strategies, event centrality, and demographic factors. Additionally, the study explored the relationship between event centrality, PTG, and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) within the Turkish cultural context. Method: A total of 462 participants, all of whom had experienced at least one traumatic event, were recruited through online surveys. A Pearson correlation and hierarchical regression were used to test the hypotheses. Results: Core belief disruption about oneself and coping strategies were significant predictors of PTG. Moreover, event centrality was significantly associated with PTG and PTSS, including all PTSS and PTG subdimensions, except for "relating to others." Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of core beliefs and coping strategies in fostering PTG. Moreover, it underscores the double role of event centrality in the formation of both positive and negative outcomes in the posttraumatic recovery process. The results have implications for future research and clinical practice, suggesting that specific psychological factors such as coping strategies are critical in promoting PTG, and event centrality about the traumatic experience should be considered carefully due to the potential to produce either outcome within the Turkish cultural context.