Positive Transformation in the Face of Adversity: the Development of a Measure of Workplace Posttraumatic Growth

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Positive Transformation in the Face of Adversity: the Development of a Measure of Workplace Posttraumatic Growth POSITIVE TRANSFORMATION IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY: THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MEASURE OF WORKPLACE POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH by EMILY ELIZABETH AMDURER Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Organizational Behavior CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY May, 2014 CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES We hereby approve the thesis/dissertation of Emily Amdurer candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy degree* Committee Chair Diane M. Bergeron Committee Member Melvin Smith Committee Member David Cooperrider Committee Member Gary Hunter Date of Defense February 5, 2014 *We also certify that written approval has been obtained for any proprietary material contained therein. ii Copyright © 2013 by Emily Elizabeth Amdurer All rights reserved iii To Grandma Nettie. For the inspiration of this dissertation. You are truly the embodiment of resilience, acceptance and love. May your name and message live on through this work. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................................ 8 LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................... 9 LIST OF APPENDICES ............................................................................................................ 10 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................................... 11 Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... 20 CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 22 An Overview of Posttraumatic Growth ......................................................................... 25 Areas of Growth ........................................................................................................ 27 CHAPTER II: POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH: THEORY AND MODEL ...................... 30 Organismic Valuing Theory .......................................................................................... 31 Organismic Valuing Theory and Self-determination Theory .................................... 32 Cognitive Processing of Trauma ............................................................................... 34 Psycho-Social and Personality Factors ......................................................................... 37 Psychological Needs .................................................................................................. 38 Coping Styles ............................................................................................................. 38 Social Support............................................................................................................ 41 Personality ................................................................................................................. 41 Emotional States ........................................................................................................ 42 The Transformational Process ....................................................................................... 43 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 47 CHAPTER III: POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH IN THE WORKPLACE ........................ 48 High-risk Occupations................................................................................................... 48 Downsizing and Job Insecurity ..................................................................................... 50 Other Types of Workplace Traumas ............................................................................. 51 CHAPTER IV: ISSUES WITH WORKPLACE POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH MEASURES ................................................................................................................................ 54 CHAPTER V: DEVELOPMENT OF WORKPLACE POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH MEASURE ................................................................................................................................... 60 5 Inductive and Deductive................................................................................................ 60 Interview Sample and Procedure ................................................................................... 61 Sample ....................................................................................................................... 61 Procedure ................................................................................................................... 63 CHAPTER VI: EXPLORATORY INTERVIEWS ................................................................ 64 Item Generation and Scale Development ...................................................................... 64 Coding Strategy ......................................................................................................... 64 Item Generation ......................................................................................................... 81 Summary of Methods .................................................................................................... 92 CHAPTER VII: MEASURE VALIDATION AND CONFIRMATION STUDY: SAMPLE AND PROCEDURES .............................................................................................. 93 Participants and Procedure for Amazon Mechanical Turk Sample .............................. 93 Participants and Procedure for Alumni Sample ............................................................ 94 Measures........................................................................................................................ 97 CHAPTER VIII: MEASURE VALIDATION AND CONFIRMATION STUDY ANALYSES AND RESULTS ................................................................................................ 100 Exploratory Factor Analyses ....................................................................................... 100 Confirmatory Factor Analyses .................................................................................... 105 Model 1: Personal Strength Second-order Dimensions ........................................... 113 Model 2: Personal Strength and Technical Competence Dimensions ..................... 114 Model 3: Relating to Others Second-order Dimension ........................................... 116 Model 4: Political Skill Dimensions ........................................................................ 117 Model 5: Professionalism and Three Political Skill Dimensions ............................ 118 Model 6: Life-oriented Dimensions ........................................................................ 119 Summary .................................................................................................................................... 120 Chapter IX: DISCUSSION ...................................................................................................... 125 Evidence of Posttraumatic Growth at Work ............................................................... 128 How the Workplace Posttraumatic Growth Inventory Can Advance Management Research ...................................................................................................................... 130 Self-reliance ............................................................................................................. 131 Confidence ............................................................................................................... 133 Acceptance ............................................................................................................... 135 6 New Career Possibilities .......................................................................................... 136 Meaningful Relationships ........................................................................................ 137 Compassion ............................................................................................................. 138 Identity Shift ............................................................................................................ 139 Organizational Awareness ....................................................................................... 140 Professionalism ........................................................................................................ 142 Advocating............................................................................................................... 143 Technical Competence ............................................................................................ 145 Political Skills .......................................................................................................... 146 Social astuteness. ..................................................................................................... 147 Interpersonal influence ............................................................................................ 147 Networking. ............................................................................................................. 148 Integrity. .................................................................................................................. 148 Life- oriented Growth .............................................................................................
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