Are sequential sample designs useful for examining post-traumatic changes in character strengths?. Issue 3 (3rd May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lamade, Raina V.; Jayawickreme, Eranda; Blackie, Laura E.R.; McGrath, Robert E.
• Is Part Of: Journal of positive psychology. Volume 15:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 292
• Page End: 299
• Publication Date: 2020-05-03
• Subjects: Character strengths -- VIA inventory of strengths -- terrorism; Positive psychology -- Periodicals; Quality of life -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Happiness -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; 158
• DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2019.1610481
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-9760

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Previous research on differences in character strengths as a result of traumatic cultural events has relied on non-overlapping samples of individuals who completed online questionnaires before and after the event. This study expands on these previous studies by examining differences in self-reports of character strengths before, between, and after two terror attacks on Paris, France, in 2015, and further comparing these differences to contemporaneous differences in two other countries. Completers of the inventory during the same periods from the United States ( N = 528, 912) and Australia ( N = 174, 591) served as the comparison groups. After controlling for age and gender, six strengths in the French sample, nine strengths in the Australian sample and seven in the US sample remained significant. A clear discernable pattern did not emerge. Effect sizes were consistently miniscule, which when combined with very large samples may account for finding significance even though within-nation differences are unreliable.