Relationship between Initial Trauma Processing Strategies and Posttraumatic Growth among Survivors of Garissa University Terrorist Attack, Kenya

The study investigated the predictive relationship between initial trauma processing strategies and posttraumatic growth among Garissa University terrorist attack survivors. The study was anchored on the organismic valuing theory after adversity, and adopted the correlation research design. A total sample of 200 participants was selected using simple random sampling technique. Quantitative data were collected using a standardized questionnaire, the21 item Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) and Initial Trauma Processing Scale (ITRS). Data were analyzed using univariate analysis, Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis. The study found positive significant relationship between initial trauma processing strategies and posttraumatic growth among the survivors of Garissa University terrorist attack (R2=0.121, F=6.474, P≤0.05). The study further found that intrusion response and arousal response strategies were significantly and positively related to all the 6 posttraumatic growth domains: relating to others, personal strength, spiritual change, appreciation of life, new possibilities and overall posttraumatic growth. Cognitive alteration strategy was significant and positively related to 2 the posttraumatic growth domains: appreciation of life and total posttraumatic growth. Avoidance response strategy was not related to any of the posttraumatic growth domains. These findings may be relevant in designing future interventions for trauma survivors that are growth focused as complementary approaches to the existing crisis-focused counseling.