Predictive Role of Resilience, Meta-Emotion of Fulfillment, Distress Tolerance, and Social Support in Post-Traumatic Growth among Individuals with Childhood War Experiences

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the predictive roles of resilience, meta-emotion of fulfillment, distress tolerance, and social support in post-traumatic growth (PTG) among individuals who experienced war during childhood. The research was applied in purpose and descriptive-correlational in design. The statistical population included adults who had spent at least two years of their childhood (after age three) during wartime. A sample of 351 participants with minimum literacy and a clear memory of war scenes was selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996), the Brief Resilience Scale (Campbell-Sills & Stein, 2007), the Meta-Emotion Questionnaire (Mitmansgruber et al., 2009), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (Zimet et al., 1988), and the Distress Tolerance Scale (Simons & Gaher, 2005). Descriptive statistics (mean, SD) and inferential statistics (Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression) were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Results indicated a significant positive relationship between resilience, meta-emotion of fulfillment, distress tolerance, and social support with post-traumatic growth (p<0.01). Pearson correlations were 0.42, 0.47, 0.36, and 0.46 respectively. Multiple regression analysis revealed that these four predictors together explained 84.7% of the variance in PTG, with meta-emotion of fulfillment being the strongest predictor. Resilience, emotional meta-awareness, distress tolerance, and social support significantly contribute to post-traumatic growth among individuals exposed to war during childhood. Enhancing these factors through psychological interventions can foster emotional recovery, adaptability, and long-term mental health in war-affected populations.