Assessing the latent structure of posttraumatic growth and its relationship with cognitive processing of trauma among Filipino women victims of intimate partner abuse

Abstract

The study intends to find out which model best represents posttraumatic growth’s (PTG) latent factor structure in a sample of Asian, particularly Filipino, women victims of intimate partner abuse (IPA) using Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). In addition, it also aims to find out the differential relationships of the components of the best-fitting PTG model with cognitive processing strategies. Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted with the one-factor, three-factor, and five-factor models of PTG in a sample of 217 Filipino women who have history of IPA within the last 6 months of a previous or current relationship. Results revealed that the five-factor model comprised of appreciation of life, new possibilities, personal strength, spiritual change, and relating to others best fits the sample. Furthermore, all the components of the five-factor model were found to be positively correlated with cognitive processing of trauma strategies, including positive cognitive restructuring, denial, downward comparison, regret, and resolution/acceptance, albeit in varying degrees. These findings confirmed the robustness of the five-factor model of PTG compared with other models in a sample of women victims of IPA. In addition, the findings demonstrated the relationship of PTG with cognitive processing of trauma. These findings would be useful in developing cognitive interventions for women who experienced IPA.