UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Damaged? Not Me: Women's Lived Experience of Growth Following ...

193 Pages·2014·2.12 MB·English

by  Katerina Renny

University of Calgary
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Graduate Studies The Vault: Electronic Theses and Dissertations
2014-05-20
Damaged? Not Me: Women's Lived Experience of
Growth Following Multiple Traumas
Renny, Katerina
Renny, K. (2014). Damaged? Not Me: Women's Lived Experience of Growth Following Multiple
Traumas (Unpublished master's thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB.
doi:10.11575/PRISM/25514
http://hdl.handle.net/11023/1530
master thesis
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UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY

Damaged? Not Me: Women’s Lived Experience of Growth
Following Multiple Traumas

by

Katerina Renny

A THESIS
SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES
IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE

GRADUATE PROGRAM IN EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
CALGARY, ALBERTA
APRIL, 2014

© Katerina Renny 2014
Abstract
Posttraumatic growth has been found to develop following a wide variety of adverse life events.
This study utilizes Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis to lend an understanding to women’s
lived experiences of growth following multiple trauma experiences, as little is known about the
positive growth outcomes following multiple hardships. Nine women who have experienced
complex multiple traumas were interviewed about their posttraumatic growth. The findings
revealed five main growth facilitating processes as being important catalysts to the development
of growth within these women’s lives, as well as identified five main areas of growth. Growth
facilitating processes included: (1) belief in growth potential, (2) growth as a conscious
purposeful process, (3) aligning with hope and spirituality, (4) positive role models and
supportive others, and (5) knowledge and skill development. The experiences of growth
consisted of: (1) a compassionate self, (2) a better self, (3) an empowered self, (4) moving
forward in preferred directions, and (5) aligning with gratitude. This study shows that women’s
lived experiences of growth following multiple traumas are similar to the findings of previous
posttraumatic growth research with single type traumas. The findings challenge the stigma of
being forever damaged after multiple trauma experiences.
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Preface
While counselling women over the past 12 years, I have barred witness to many women’s stories
of trauma and growth. I am always in awe of women’s ability to overcome multiple traumas, and
have seen first hand how some women not just survive, but thrive and flourish after
unimaginable hardships. I have noticed that for many women, it’s as if their trauma experience
fuels a process of transformation, a process of growth, new self discovery, sense of
meaningfulness, and newfound appreciation for life and all the little things in it. The scope and
intention of this thesis was to lend greater understanding of women’s lived experience of
posttraumatic growth. Although it is critical to not minimize the pain and turmoil that trauma
experiences have on women’s lives, it is also vital that we notice and give voice to growth after
hardship, a phenomenon that I have witnessed first hand on many occasions.
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Acknowledgements
I would like to acknowledge the support and sound guidance I received from my supervisor Dr.
Sharon Cairns throughout this research process, thank you. I am also grateful to the support of
my family, especially my husband Dave. Thank you for your ongoing encouragement and for
enduring the many sacrifices along the way.

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Dedication
Dedicated to Rudy, my best friend.

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Table of Contents
Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………………ii
Preface……………………………………………………………………………………………iii
Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………………….....iv
Dedication…………………………………………………………………………………………v
Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………………....vi
List of Tables……………………………………………………………………………………...x

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………..1
Overview of Chapters…………………………………………………………………………..2
Importance of this Study………………………………………………………………………..5

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE…………………………………………...6
Trauma Background……………………………………………................................................6
Trauma conceptualization……………………………………………………………………6
Women and trauma prevalence………………………………………………………………7
Women, trauma, and the known negative impacts………………………………………..…8
Women and complex trauma…………………………………………………………...…..10
The Transformative Effects of Trauma: A Focus On the Positive………………………...….10
Positive psychology……………………………………………………………………..….11
Growth after hardship………………………………………………………………...…….12
Posttraumatic Growth: An Overview…………………………………………………………14
Personality Characteristics and Their Relationship with Posttraumatic Growth……………..18
Resilience…………………………………………………………………………………..18
Hardiness…………………………………………………………………………………...21
Optimism…………………………………………………………………………………...21
Sense of coherence…………………………………………………………………………22
Internal locus of control……………………………………………………………………22
Self-efficacy………………………………………………………………………………..23
The 'big five' personality factors…………………………………………………..……….23
The Complex Balance Between Coping and Growth…………………………………….…..23
Posttraumatic Growth Theoretical Model…………………………………………………….24
Rumination…………………………………………………………………………...…….25
Self-disclosure and social support………………………………………………………….29
Wisdom and new life narrative………………………………………………………...…...30
Other Theories of Growth………………………………………………………………...…...31
Life crisis and personal growth…………………………………………………….…….…31
Transformational coping……………………………………………………………………31
Resilience and thriving…………………………………………………………………..…32
The organismic valuing theory of growth through adversity…………………………..…..33
A bio-psycho-sociocultural evolutionary theoretical framework……………………..……34
Posttraumatic Growth Within the Literature…………………………………………………..35
Women specific research……………………………………………………………..…….37
A Call for an Understanding of Women's Growth Following Multiple Adversities………….38
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CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY………………………………………………………..39
Research Paradigm and Theoretical Foundations………………………………………..……39
Phenomenology……………………………………………………………………….…….41
Husserl's influence…………………………………………………………….…………41
Heidegger's influence…………………………………………………………….………43
Merleau-Ponty's influence……………………………………………………………….44
Satre's influence………………………………………………………………………….45
Summary…………………………………………………………………………………46
Hermeneutics……………………………………………………...………………………..47
Schleiermacher's hermeneutics…………………………………………………….…….47
Heidegger's hermeneutics………………………………………………………………..48
Gadamer's hermeneutics…………………………………………………………………49
Summary…………………………………………………………………………………50
The hermeneutic circle………………………………………….…………………………..51
Another hermeneutic circle in the research process………………….………………….…52
Other hermeneutic philosophical positions influencing IPA……………………………….53
Idiography…………………………………………………………………………………..54
Symbolic interactionism……………………………………………….…………………...55
Method for Data Collection…………………………………………………………………...55
Recruitment……………………………………………………………………..………..…55
Screening…………………………………………………………………….……………...56
Sample size…………………………………………………………………………………56
Semi-structured interview…………………………………………………………………..57
Compensation……………………………………………………………………...……….58
Transcription………………………………………………………………………………..58
Procedure for Data Analysis…………………………………………………………………..59
Stage one: reading and re-reading……………………………………………………….….60
Stage two: initial noting…………………………………………………………………….61
Stage three: developing emergent themes……………………………………………….….62
Stage four: searching for connections across emergent themes…………………………….63
Stage five: move to the next case……………………………………………...……………63
Stage six: looking for patterns across cases…………………………………...……………64
Trustworthiness: Quality and Validity……………………………………...…………………65
Reflexivity……………………………………………………………………………………..68
Introspection……………………………………………………………..…………………68
Intersubjective reflection…………………………………………………………….……..70

CHAPTER FOUR: FINDINGS…………………………………………………………..……...72
Demographics………………………………………………………………………………....72
Traumas and Hardships Experienced………………………………………………………….72
Childhood traumas…………………………………………………………………...……..75
Traumas and hardships in adolescence and adulthood……………………………………..76
Other identified significant stressors……………………………………………………….77
Growth Facilitating Processes and the Lived Experience of Posttraumatic Growth………….77
Growth facilitating processes and agents………………………………………………..….78
Master theme 1: belief in growth potential………………………...…………………….79
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A foundational belief in growth potential……………………………………………..79
Lived experiences support this belief…………….……………………………………80
Master theme 2: growth as a conscious purposeful process…………………………….81
Growth as an ongoing purposeful process…………………………..………………..81
Growth as a holistic multidimensional process……………….………………………82
A conscious knowing that the trauma was not okay…………………………………..83
Cognitive processing, making sense, and raising awareness………………………....84
Self as a cycle breaking agent…………………………………………………………85
Consciously tapping into self-agency and abilities…………...………………………86
Master theme 3: hope and spirituality……………………………………..…………….87
Aligning with hope and visualizing a better future……………………………………88
Tapping into faith and spiritual beliefs………………………………..………………88
Master theme 4: positive role models and supportive others……………………………89
Friendships and supportive others……………………………………………………89
Positive role models…………………………………………………………………...90
Spiritual community supports…………………………..……………………………..91
Master theme 5: knowledge and skill development…………………………….………..91
Professional therapy supports……………………………..………………………….92
Reading and self-help…………………………………………………………………94
Lived experience of growth……………..………………………………………………….94
Master theme 6: the development of a compassionate self………………...…………….95
Love, caring, and compassion for others…………….………………………………..95
Greater understanding and empathy………………………...………………………..96
Altruism and giving back……………………….……………………………………..98
Seeing the good in others……………………….………………………………….….99
Sense of community and interconnectedness……………………………………….…99
Master theme 7: a better self…………………………..…………….……………….….99
Changed positive self-identity………………………………………………………..100
Increased self awareness………………………………...…………………………..100
Master theme 8: an empowered self……………………………………………………101
Possessing strength………………………………………………..…………………102
Aligning with overcoming abilities…………………………..………………………103
Assertive self and healthy boundaries………………………………………………..103
Moving away from fear……………………………………………………...……….105
Master theme 9: moving forward in preferred directions……………………...………105
Setting and accomplishing goals………………………...…………………………..105
New life priorities……………………………………………………………………107
Master theme 10: aligning with gratitude…………………….………………………..107
Gratitude towards lived experiences difficult experiences…………………….…….108
Gratitude for the everyday and not taking things for granted………………….……108

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS…………………………………….110
The Findings and Their Comparison to Previously Identified Domains of Growth………....110
Appreciating the Holistic Nature of The Growth Experience……………………...………..113
Transcending the Negative Effects of Multiple Traumas………………………..…………..114
Negative Effects and Positive Growth Coexist…………………………………...………….116
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Is There a Need to Redefine Growth Within Complex Trauma Experiences?........................117
Recovery Versus Growth……………………………………………………………...……..120
An Ongoing Growth Experience………………………………………………………...…..122
Growth as a Multidimensional Process………………………………………………………124
A Closer Look at the Five Growth Facilitating Processes and Agents………………………125
Belief in growth potential following hardship…………………………………………….126
Growth as a conscious purposeful process………………………………………………..128
Hope and spirituality………………………………………………………………………132
Positive role models and supportive others……………………………………………….134
Knowledge and skill development……………………………………………….………..136
Summary……………………………………………………………………….………….138
A Closer Look at the Five Main Areas of Growth……………………………..…………….138
Growth as the development of a compassionate self……………………….……………..138
Growth as a better self………………………………………………………….…………140
Growth as an empowered self…………………………………………………..…………141
Growth as moving forward in preferred directions………………………….………….…142
Growth as aligning with gratitude………………………………………….……………...143
Promoting Growth in Therapeutic Settings……………………………….…………………145
Limitations of the Study………………………………………………….……………….….147
Concluding Remarks…………………………………………………………………………147

REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………………………149

APPENDIX A………………………………………………………………………………..…171

APPENDIX B…………………………………………………………………………………..172

APPENDIX C…………………………………………………………………………………..175

APPENDIX D…………………………………………………………………………………..176

APPENDIX E…………………………………………………………………………………..181
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