Post-traumatic growth of violent crime victims in a high crime area in South Africa
Abstract
The study aimed to qualitatively examine the post-traumatic growth (PTG) of victims of violent crimes by using interviews to explore possible factors that might have contributed to their growth and factors that might have prevented them from growing. However, the study did not ignore any of their negative experiences of trauma that could still be prevalent. The Post-traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) was used to assess their PTG, and the scores were qualitatively interpreted. A literature study informed the problem statement and indicated the high levels of violent crime in South Africa. A serious consequence of high levels of crime in a society is the fear of crime (FoC) phenomenon conceptualised by Jackson (2004) and Eagle (2015). As a sub-clinical condition in societies ridden with crime, FoC has been linked with features of psychological distress and has symptoms similar to those in the experience of actual trauma. Theoretical views of trauma and the physical and psychological outcomes of experiencing trauma were discussed. After this, the PTG construct, its conceptualisation and theoretical framework, and research conducted into PTG were explicated. Fields associated with PTG and application areas of PTG were discussed next. The literature overview led to the formulation of a research question: what factors that either enable or inhibit PTG in victims of violent crimes can be identified by qualitatively exploring their shared lived experiences in this regard and by evaluating their responses on the PTGI? Research aims were to: * qualitatively, by means of interviews, identify either enabling or inhibiting factors for PTG from the shared lived experiences of victims a year or more after having experienced violent crime; and * measure the PTG of participants with the PTGI in order to use their scores to identify those who reported PTG and those who did not and to qualitatively analyse the results. The individual scores would also be discussed with participants. The research design was an exploratory descriptive qualitative design. In-depth interviews lasting about 60 to 90 minutes were used as the primary means of collecting data from the violent crime victims. The study used a qualitative in-depth interview format in order to get an informed perspective on the research question about post-traumatic growth of violent crime victims (Jugder, 2016). Qualitative interviews give insight into a social phenomenon, as they allow the respondents to reflect and reason on the subject in different ways (Folkestadt, 2008). Tedeschi and Calhoun (1996) state that such interviews are preferable, since they allow participants to speak freely and in their own way about their experiences with the phenomenon of PTG. The PTGI was used as a source of information, not as a data-gathering instrument for statistical analysis purposes. The participants’ levels of PTG as indicated by the PTGI contributed to qualitative analysis and interpretation. Participants received full feedback about their scores on the PTGI. Violent crimes affect the emotional and psychological well-being of most individuals in South Africa. The participants in this study were recruited from the Cosmo City Baptist Church in Johannesburg, South Africa. The specific area was selected because it is known for its high crime levels, and people living there have reported trauma-related incidents and experiences to the pastor and at the congregation meetings. The pastor assisted in the recruitment of participants. The only participants involved in this study were those who met the inclusion criteria, who willingly agreed to discuss their experienced trauma and possible growth that flowed from it, and who signed the consent form of the study. Eleven participants were selected. The results of thematic content analysis of the transcribed interviews were that most participants showed aspects of growth on the PTG components of relations with others, appreciation for life, personal strength, spirituality, and finding new possibilities, while some participants experienced factors that impeded or hindered their PTG in the areas of relationships with others, appreciation for life, personal strength, and finding new possibilities. Spirituality seemed to enable all participants towards PTG. Scores on the PTGI were interpreted in line with the corresponding components of PTG and indicated stronger PTG than what was reported in the discussion. Results were discussed and linked to related literature, and a concluding discussion of the findings was also provided. A final chapter gave the conclusions and recommendations flowing from the study and indicated the limitations of the research. The study answered the research question and met the research aims.
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- Health Sciences [2060]