Posttraumatic stress symptoms and posttraumatic growth. The mediating role of cognitive coping

The aim of the present study is to identify the relation between posttraumatic stress symptoms and posttraumatic growth, as well as the mediating role of cognitive coping in this relation. A sample of 212 adults that reported the experience of a traumatic life events involving death or the threat of death, severe injury, or sexual violence in the last three years were included in the present study (Mage = 33.33; SD = 10.99). The participants completed scales for measuring posttraumatic stress symptoms, posttraumatic growth, and cognitive coping. The results showed that the functional and dysfunctional coping strategies are related to posttraumatic growth and mediate the relationship between the posttraumatic stress symptomatology and the posttraumatic growth.  Particularly, our results indicate that the relations between PTSD symptoms and PTG is mediated by self-blame and positive reappraisal. In order to facilitate positive posttraumatic outcomes and posttraumatic growth processes, intervention should be focusing on increasing positive reappraisal and decreasing self-blame.