Family resilience and posttraumatic growth among caregivers of children with disabilities: A longitudinal study

Abstract Objective The goal was to explore the longitudinal bidirectional relationship between family resilience and posttraumatic growth (PTG) among caregivers of children with disabilities. Background In collectivist cultures, families play a central role in individual psychological adaptation following trauma. Although prior research has examined the link between individual resilience and PTG, little is known about how family resilience dynamically relates to PTG, particularly among caregivers of children with disabilities. Method This study drew on three‐wave longitudinal data collected over 6 months from 240 family caregivers of children with disabilities in China. A random intercept cross‐lagged panel model was used to examine both within‐person and between‐person associations between family resilience and PTG. Results Results showed that (a) at the within‐person level, family resilience and PTG predicted each other over time, suggesting a bidirectional, mutually reinforcing relationship; and (b) at the between‐person level, stable individual differences in family resilience were positively associated with stable differences in PTG, indicating trait‐level coupling. These findings extend trauma adaptation models by revealing a reciprocal relationship between family resilience and PTG over time. Conclusions These findings reveal a reciprocal link between family resilience and PTG, extending trauma recovery models and guiding culturally informed interventions for caregivers of children with disabilities in collectivist contexts.