The purpose of this study is to deeply explore the process of posttraumatic growth (PTG) in individuals who acquired physical disabilities due to accidents or illnesses, and to construct a situation-specific theory that explains their growth processes...
The purpose of this study is to deeply explore the process of posttraumatic growth (PTG) in individuals who acquired physical disabilities due to accidents or illnesses, and to construct a situation-specific theory that explains their growth processes. To achieve this, a Sequential Qualitative–Simulation Integrated Study was conducted. Study 1 employed constructivist grounded theory to derive a conceptual model of PTG in individuals with acquired disabilities. Study 2 used System Dynamics methodology to validate the qualitative model and assess the effectiveness of intervention variables contributing to PTG through simulations.
Acquired disabilities initially occur from a single traumatic event but often evolve into cumulative trauma characterized by ongoing and repetitive experiences of daily living difficulties, relational conflicts and ruptures, and social exclusion. This unique trauma context significantly differs from single-event trauma, demanding lifelong recovery and identity reconstruction rather than simple adaptation. Recognizing that the trauma experience of individuals with acquired disabilities qualitatively differs from other trauma groups, this research aimed to thoroughly explore how individuals form positive disability identities, discover new meanings and purposes in post-trauma life, and regain psychological well-being. The study sought to offer theoretical foundations and practical intervention strategies that support positive identity recovery and PTG in individuals facing psychosocial difficulties after acquiring disabilities.
In Study 1, 17 individuals who experienced PTG after acquiring disabilities participated. The study analyzed the psychological and social processes leading to PTG and identified key contributing factors. Results revealed that PTG among these individuals revolved around the core phenomenon of "growth and expansion through accepting non-acceptance." Specifically, the process began with denial and self-negation, progressed through self-confrontation and disability acceptance, and expanded to accepting relational and social non-acceptance. Participants thus refocused their lives beyond their disabilities, reconstructing meaning in their psychological, relational, and social domains.
In the first stage, 'self-negation,' participants evaluated themselves negatively as 'useless and broken' due to internalized societal norms emphasizing normalcy and usefulness acquired through socialization before becoming disabled. Consequently, they exhibited rejection or resignation toward their disability. During this stage, individuals experienced intensified psychological distress, facing internal problems such as identity collapse and psychological turmoil, as well as non-acceptance at relational, social, and institutional levels involving family members, acquaintances, and broader society.
In the second stage, 'self-confrontation,' intervention conditions such as observing the lives of senior individuals with disabilities, gradual exposure to social environments, feelings of remorse toward family, and internal dialogue served as starting points for reflective rumination, prompting participants to confront their disability situation and reassess their lives post-disability. Witnessing the lives of senior disabled individuals provided new hope for life after disability, while gradual social exposure reduced exaggerated fears regarding negative perceptions held by anonymous others, thereby opening possibilities for social participation. Additionally, feelings of remorse toward family shifted participants' focus from their own sorrow to the sacrifices made by family members, serving as internal motivation for change. Lastly, internal dialogue integrated these experiences, encouraging participants to actively consider how to live their lives after acquiring a disability. Consequently, their thought processes gradually shifted from questioning 'why did this happen to me?' to contemplating 'how should I live moving forward?'
In the third stage, 'self-acceptance,' reflective rumination regarding oneself and the disability deepened, leading participants to accept their disability as part of life and actively seek new directions and possibilities for their lives beyond the disability itself. Participants began openly revealing their disabilities rather than hiding them, restored and gradually expanded their social networks, and regained autonomy and agency through employment and independent living. Through these experiences, they accumulated problem-solving skills in various everyday situations, creating a positive feedback loop that enhanced self-efficacy and further promoted disability acceptance.
In the fourth stage, 'acceptance of non-acceptance,' participants experienced psychological maturity and expansion by accepting not only their disability but also others' non-acceptance attitude, social stigma, and structural exclusion. Rather than being hurt by negative responses from others, they acknowledged the limitations of others and employed strategies to protect themselves, actively adjusting social relationships and proactively expanding their life domains.
In the final PTG stage, participants moved beyond external standards of normalcy, establishing their own life rhythms and values, experiencing psychological freedom and inner stability. They perceived themselves as 'still valuable' individuals, demonstrating posttraumatic growth that surpassed their pre-trauma psychological functioning through diverse social engagements and participation within the disability community. Particularly noteworthy was their progressive strengthening of psychological resilience, as they continually accepted and recovered from negative events and repetitive secondary traumas and stressful life events associated with disability.
In conclusion, this study identified that posttraumatic growth (PTG) in individuals with acquired disabilities is not linear but rather a multi-stage, cyclical process. Additionally, it transcended previous research limitations that primarily addressed disability acceptance only at an individual level. Genuine disability acceptance encompasses comprehensively accepting not only oneself but also others' rejecting attitudes, social discrimination, and stigma. This acceptance of non-acceptance allowed participants to focus more on their lives than the disability itself, creating a foundation for assertively expressing their voices in relational and social contexts. Some participants regained control over their lives and experienced psychological freedom beyond physical limitations, highlighting new dimensions—psychological liberation and restored inner agency—unique to the PTG experiences of individuals with acquired disabilities. These findings provide academic and practical significance by expanding existing PTG frameworks beyond the five previously identified growth domains.
In Study 2, the validity of the qualitative model derived from Study 1 was verified, and simulation techniques were used to analyze the effects of key intervention variables influencing posttraumatic growth. The core causal model of grounded theory established in Study 1 was quantitatively validated, confirming the model's structural consistency and validity. Subsequently, three simulations were conducted to precisely analyze the specific effects of the four main intervention variables identified in Study 1—social exposure, mentoring effects, feelings of remorse toward family, and internal dialogue—on the PTG process of individuals with acquired disabilities.
In the first simulation, to address the limitation of Research 1, which focused solely on groups exposed to intervention conditions, the intervention conditions were divided into three levels: high, moderate, and low. The post-trauma clinical trajectories of each group were then compared. Results indicated that the group exposed to the "high" intervention condition recovered to their pre-trauma psychological functioning level approximately 36 months after the trauma and maintained the highest level of posttraumatic growth (PTG) until the end of the simulation (5 years). The group exposed to the "moderate" intervention condition recovered their pre-trauma functioning level around the 42-month mark, subsequently entering a phase of PTG that surpassed their pre-trauma psychological functioning. However, the group exposed to the "low" intervention condition did not recover their pre-trauma functioning level by the end of the simulation period. These findings suggest that merely allowing time to pass is insufficient for individuals with acquired disabilities to fully recover their post-trauma psychological functioning and achieve meaningful growth. Active and intensive psychosocial interventions immediately following the trauma are thus essential.
In the second simulation, the main effects of the four primary intervention variables (social exposure, mentoring, familial guilt and responsibility, and internal dialogue) on reflective rumination among individuals with acquired disabilities were analyzed using the Taguchi experimental design. Reflective rumination serves as the starting point for facilitating the core phenomenon of "growth through accepting non-acceptance" within the posttraumatic growth (PTG) process. The earlier reflective rumination occurs, the faster psychological recovery is accelerated. The results showed that at low or moderate frequencies (1–2 times per week), social exposure did not lead to reflective rumination within the simulation period (5 years); however, at a high frequency (5 or more times per week), reflective rumination occurred after approximately 11.8 months. Mentoring showed consistent and steady effectiveness in promoting reflective rumination at both moderate and high levels. Feelings of remorse toward family had limited effectiveness when acting alone but contributed meaningfully to promoting reflective rumination when combined with other interventions, such as social exposure or mentoring. Regarding internal dialogue, reflective rumination appeared around 34 months at moderate levels but accelerated to approximately 21 months when maintained at high levels. However, internal dialogue also demonstrated limited effectiveness when acting independently; notably, when social exposure and mentoring were combined at moderate or higher levels, even a moderate level of internal dialogue accelerated the onset of reflective rumination. These findings imply that internal dialogue has stronger potential to promote reflective rumination through interaction with other intervention variables.
In the third simulation, the effects of growth-oriented strategies—specifically, "vocational activity (work)" and "independent living"—on posttraumatic growth (PTG) among individuals with acquired disabilities were analyzed. Participants were divided into four groups based on the fulfillment of these two conditions. Results showed that the group meeting both conditions exhibited the highest PTG index (approximately 3.9) at the end of the simulation period. This score was approximately 2.6 points higher compared to groups fulfilling only one condition (approximately 1.3), and approximately 3.4 points higher than the group meeting neither condition (approximately 0.5). These findings indicate a synergistic interaction between vocational activity and independent living, suggesting that these factors collaboratively promote autonomy and self-efficacy, thereby substantially enhancing the level of PTG.
Considering this, Study 2 quantitatively examined the specific effects of key intervention variables influencing the posttraumatic growth (PTG) process among individuals with acquired disabilities. Particularly, this study empirically demonstrated that active and multidimensional psychosocial interventions are essential for facilitating psychological recovery and achieving PTG.
The implications of this study are as follows. First, the findings empirically expanded the scope of PTG research by demonstrating that posttraumatic growth is achievable even in cumulative and ongoing trauma environments, such as acquired disabilities. Second, by deriving the core category of “accepting non-acceptance,” this research broadened the theoretical understanding of disability acceptance and PTG beyond an individual internal dimension, incorporating responses from others, social stigma, and structural discrimination. Third, the study showed that PTG can be realized beyond mere psychological recovery by redefining life meaning and reconstructing self-identity and roles. Fourth, the study identified a novel outcome domain—“psychological freedom”—which existing PTG scales have not captured. This existential change, characterized by reclaiming autonomy over one’s life, presents potential applicability across diverse trauma populations. Fifth, by validating the causal structure of the qualitative model through simulation methods and confirming the efficacy of key intervention factors, this study provides valuable insights applicable to counseling interventions and policy development.
Ultimately, this research structures and empirically validates the PTG process among individuals with acquired disabilities, establishing a foundation for integrated understanding at the intersections of counseling psychology, rehabilitation psychology, and disability studies. The study also proposes theoretical recommendations for deeper understanding of PTG processes, discusses the necessity of training counselors specializing in disability, and suggests directions for future research to address limitations.