ADULT WOMEN’S POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH IN THE WAR AND POST-WAR PERIODS: FOREIGN PSYCHOLOGICAL DISCOURSE

Abstract

This article offers a theoretical analysis of psychological research concerning post-traumatic growth among women veterans and civilian women during and after wartime. It highlights the potential for positive psychological transformation following exposure to traumatic events, with a focus on the development of post-traumatic growth as a multidimensional process. This growth is characterized by profound changes in personal and psychological functioning, including the discovery of life meaning, shifts in relationships with significant others, enhanced personal strength, recognition of new possibilities, adoption of adaptive coping strategies, improved mental health, value reorientation, and spiritual development.

Contemporary international research has documented the beneficial effects of post-traumatic growth on mental well-being, resilience, socio-psychological adaptation, and self-esteem among women veterans. The article underscores the critical need for targeted psychological rehabilitation and post-traumatic growth interventions that are specifically designed to address the unique needs of women veterans, rather than applying generalized approaches based on male experiences. Furthermore, the post-traumatic growth of civilian women who have survived sexual violence during armed conflict is shown to be influenced by specific coping mechanisms, such as positive cognitive reappraisal, dispositional optimism, and reduced behavioral disengagement. The analysis concludes that while social support is important, it is insufficient on its own; the presence of internal psychological resources and effective coping strategies is essential for facilitating post-traumatic growth in women survivors of wartime sexual trauma.