Week 13: Resilience and positive clinical psychology

Question 1

What is/what are the results of the heart attack and resilience study?

Answer 1

Health and retirement study
- about 2000 participants (mean age: 71)
- Data 6 years before and 4 years after heart attack
- Assessed depression symptoms and mortality
Results:
- Most people were resilient (68% - although debate around this number)
- Developing depression post heart-attack predicted mortality (otherwise depression not predictive)
- Optimism predicted resilience

Question 2

What happened with resilience when people faced challenge of inequality?

Answer 2

From MIDUS large, longitudinal data set
SES and health
- Generally an average linear relationship
Environmental mastery/control can be buffer for low SES
- I can do just about anything I set my mind to
- Subjective health

Question 3

What are the items of the growth inventory (rated with regard to change since trauma)?
What did the Frazier et al. 2009 study reveal about PTG?

Answer 3

Relating to others
Personal strength 
New possibilities 
Appreciation of life 
Spiritual change 

Perceived post-traumatic change not strongly related to actual change (there was some growth though)