A Short Form of the Posttraumatic Growth and Posttraumatic Depreciation Inventory-Expanded (PTGDI-X-SF) Among German Adults

Clinical Impact Statement This study suggests that the German PTGDI-X-SF is a suitable questionnaire to record positive (growth) and negative changes (depreciation) people report after struggling with traumatic events. Results encourage the use of the PTGDI-X-SF for an efficient investigation of the impact of traumatic events on patients' or survivors' lives, and thus for potential improvement of the conditions for therapeutic interventions, as well as the assessment of posttraumatic changes over a longer period of time. Due to its brevity, the PTGDI-X-SF is easier to respond and less burdensome, compared to its full-scale 50-item version of the PTGDI-X. Background: After experiencing trauma, people often report both negative and positive changes, which can be operationally defined as posttraumatic growth (PTG) and posttraumatic depreciation (PTD). However, there is no brief measure for assessing both posttraumatic changes simultaneously. Objective: This study describes the short form of the expanded version of the Posttraumatic Growth and Depreciation Inventory (PTGDI-X-SF) among German Adults. Method: Using a sample of 253 German adults, the dimensionality of the PTGDI-X-SF was examined by confirmatory factor analyses. Internal consistencies were determined. The relation of PTG and PTD was investigated. Regression analyses explored the relationships to established predictors as previously found for the full-scale version of the PTGDI-X. Results: Findings indicate a 5-factor structure for the PTGDI-X-SF equivalent to the PTGDI-X as well as high reliability for PTG (alpha = .88) and PTD (alpha = .88). Participants reported more PTG (M = 2.53, SD = 1.20) than PTD (M = 1.41, SD = 1.16). PTG and PTD were weakly associated (r = -.148, p = .018). PTG was positively related to disruption of core beliefs (beta = .25, p < .001) and deliberate rumination directly after the trauma (beta = .38, p < .001). PTD was positively associated with recent rumination irrespective of whether it was intrusive (beta = .21, p < .05) or deliberate (beta = .33, p < .01). Conclusions: Overall, results support the applicability of the PTGDI-X-SF as a valid and efficient measure to assess PTG and PTD.