Meaning, Social Support, and Resilience as Predictors of Posttraumatic Growth: A Study of the Louisiana Flooding of August 2016

Individuals who survive natural hazards often develop posttraumatic stress symptoms or other forms of psychological distress. However, some experience psychological growth. Given that natural hazards will increase in the near future due to global warming, it would be helpful to examine predictors of growth across different kinds of natural hazards. The present study examined positive psychological factors that may serve as buffers against the negative effects of exposure to a natural hazard, specifically following the Louisiana flooding of August 2016. Volunteer participants (N = 120) self-reported perceived presence and search for meaning in life, social support, resilience, and posttraumatic growth (PTG). After controlling for amount of property damaged, posttraumatic stress symptoms, gender, religion, and ethnicity or race, presence and search for meaning, social support, and resilience explained significant additional variance in PTG scores. This research adds to the growing understanding of how individuals respond to natural hazards.