Posttraumatic Growth Inventory for Children (PTGI-C)

Abstract

The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory for Children (PTGI-C) is a specialized psychometrics instrument designed to measure positive psychological changes experienced by children and adolescents following exposure to stressful or traumatic life events. Developed as a modification of the original Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) for adults by Tedeschi and Calhoun (1996), the PTGI-C assesses the beneficial outcomes—often referred to as Posttraumatic Growth (PTG)—that can occur in the aftermath of adversity. This 21-item self-report scale is tailored to be developmentally appropriate for younger populations, focusing on five key domains of growth.

The development and subsequent validation of the PTGI-C, notably by Cryder, Kilmer, Tedeschi, and Calhoun (2006) and further refined by Kilmer et al. (2009), sought to establish its reliability and structural integrity in measuring complex positive adaptation processes in youth who have experienced trauma. It moves beyond traditional deficit models to quantify psychological maturation, enhanced relationships, and shifts in life philosophy resulting from struggle.

Keywords

Posttraumatic Growth Inventory for Children, PTGI-C, Posttraumatic Growth, Child Assessment, Psychological Trauma, Resilience, Positive Psychology, Stress Coping, Youth Development.

Authors

Richard G. Tedeschi, Lawrence G. Calhoun, Cryder, Rebecca P. Kilmer, V. Gil-Rivas, A. Cann, T. Buchanan, K. Taku.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the PTGI-C is to systematically quantify the degree of perceived positive change that children and adolescents experience after coping with major life crises, stressors, or trauma. While the adult version (PTGI) provided the theoretical foundation, the PTGI-C was specifically created to ensure the wording and concepts were accessible and relevant to a younger demographic, thereby improving measurement fidelity in pediatric settings.

The scale serves as a crucial tool for researchers and clinicians interested in the positive aspects of adjustment following adversity. By measuring growth across multiple domains—such as personal strength and relational depth—it helps identify factors that facilitate adaptive coping, offering insights into intervention strategies that promote psychological maturation rather than solely focusing on symptom reduction.

Construct

The PTGI-C measures the construct of Posttraumatic Growth (PTG). PTG is defined as positive psychological change experienced as a result of the struggle with highly challenging life circumstances. It is not merely a return to baseline functioning (resilience) but rather an achievement of a higher level of psychological and relational functioning than that which existed prior to the traumatic event.

The scale is structured around five core dimensions of growth, which reflect the multifaceted nature of PTG. These dimensions capture changes in self-perception, relationships, and worldview, often seen as a restructuring of core beliefs following the challenge to one’s assumptions about life’s predictability and fairness.

Validity

The validity of the PTGI-C is supported through its derivation from the empirically established adult PTGI and subsequent validation studies tailored for children. Initial validation efforts (e.g., Cryder et al., 2006; Kilmer et al., 2009) focused on establishing construct validity by demonstrating that the scale measures the intended positive changes distinct from distress or simple coping strategies.

Studies have supported its convergent validity by showing positive correlations with measures of coping skills and psychological well-being, and discriminant validity by demonstrating that the PTGI-C scores are distinct from measures of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). The developmental refinement of the items ensures appropriate content validity for the child and adolescent population, confirming that the scale items accurately reflect the experience of growth in youth.

Reliability

The reliability of the PTGI-C has been consistently demonstrated across diverse samples of children exposed to various types of trauma, including natural disasters and stressful life events. Internal consistency, typically measured using Cronbach’s alpha, is generally reported as good to excellent for the total scale score and acceptable for the individual subscales, indicating that the items within the scale are highly interrelated and measure a common underlying construct.

Furthermore, test-retest reliability has been assessed to ensure temporal stability, confirming that the measure yields consistent results over time, assuming no new major life events intervene. These psychometrics properties confirm the PTGI-C as a reliable instrument for assessing PTG in youth populations.

Factor Analysis

The structure of the PTGI-C was investigated using factor analysis, which generally supports a five-factor structure consistent with the theoretical model of Posttraumatic Growth developed by Tedeschi and Calhoun. While the adult PTGI has five factors, the factor structure for the PTGI-C was rigorously tested in youth samples to ensure its appropriateness.

The five factors identified in the PTGI-C structure are:

• New Possibilities: Reflecting new paths, interests, or opportunities that emerge after the struggle.
• Relating to Others: Indicating enhanced compassion, closeness, or appreciation for relationships.
• Personal Strength: Measuring increased self-reliance, self-confidence, and perceived ability to handle adversity.
• Appreciation for Life: Reflecting a renewed perspective on the value and preciousness of life.
• Spiritual Change: Assessing deeper understanding of spiritual or religious concepts, or a strengthening of existing beliefs.

These findings from factor analysis confirm that PTG in children, like adults, is a multidimensional construct.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report inventory/Psychological scale

Format: 21 items, typically administered on a 4-point Likert scale.

Language Available: Primarily English; translations into other languages have been developed and validated in subsequent studies.

Population Group: Children and Adolescents.

Age Group: Typically utilized with school-aged children (e.g., 8 to 18 years), depending on developmental level and literacy.

Population Details: Individuals who have experienced significant life stressors, critical illness, natural disasters, bereavement, or other forms of trauma.

Test Methodology: Respondents rate the extent to which each statement is true for them since experiencing the traumatic event, using the following scale: 1=Not at all true, 2=A little true, 3=Mostly true, 4=Very true. Total scores are calculated by summing the item scores, often yielding a total PTG score and five subscale scores.

Keywords

PTGI-C, Posttraumatic Growth, Child Mental Health, Likert scale, Psychometrics, Coping Mechanisms, Adjustment, Positive Adaptation.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A (Information not provided in source content)

Affiliation Email addresses: N/A (Information not provided in source content)

Correspondence Address: N/A (Information not provided in source content)

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The original conceptualization of Posttraumatic Growth and the adult PTGI was published in 1996 (Tedeschi & Calhoun). The specific revised Posttraumatic Growth Inventory for Children (PTGI-C) was developed and refined around 2006 (Cryder et al.) and further validated in 2009 (Kilmer et al.).

For research and clinical use, interested parties should consult the primary authors or their affiliated institutions regarding official permission and potential fees. The instrument is often made available for non-commercial academic use upon request to the developers.

The original PDF of a version of this instrument can be downloaded here: http://www.lopdf.net/d/Children-Coping-with-Stress.pdf

Reference’s

• Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (1996). The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory: Measuring the positive legacy of trauma. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 9, 455–471.
• Cryder, C. H., Kilmer, R. P., Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (2006). Development of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory for Children. Unpublished manuscript.
• Kilmer, R. P., Gil-Rivas, V., Tedeschi, R. G., Cann, A., Calhoun, L. G., Buchanan, T., & Taku, K. (2009). Use of the revised posttraumatic growth inventory for children. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 22, 248-253.

Items of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory for Children (PTGI-C)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

1. I have learned what is important to me.
2. I am now more likely to try to change things in my life that need changing.
3. I have learned that life is important.
4. I learned that I can count on myself.
5. I understand spiritual things (like religious ideas) more now.
6. I learned that some people will be there for me and help me if something bad happens.
7. I feel closer to other people (friends or family) than I did before.
8. I learned that I can handle my problems.
9. I feel like it is okay to let people know how I feel inside.
10. I feel like I can deal with things the way they turn out.
11. I feel like each day is important.
12. I can better understand other people’s feelings.
13. I am able to do a better job on my work in school and at home.
14. I have the chance to do some things I wouldn’t have been able to do before.
15. I try harder to get along with my family and friends.
16. My religious beliefs are stronger now.
17. I have learned that I can deal with more than I ever thought I could.
18. I learned how nice some people can be.
19. I have new things that I like to do (like hobbies, toys, etc.)
20. I learned that sometimes I need other people to help me out.
21. I have some new ideas about how I want things to be when I grow up