Indirect paths to posttraumatic growth: The role of war exposure and rumination

Exposure to armed conflicts profoundly impacts individuals and their communities but provides an opportunity to experience posttraumatic growth (PTG). Whereas most studies examined the direct exposure to the traumatic event, this study investigated the direct and indirect links between type of war exposure (self-exposure, close others' exposure, acquaintances' exposure), and rumination (deliberate and intrusive) to PTG in Israelis following the Israel-Hamas war. Participants (n = 455) completed measures of war exposure, rumination, and PTG. Exposures of close-others and acquaintances were associated with higher PTG, partly through increased deliberate rumination. The theoretical significance lays in understanding that exposure to trauma through others in one's community may be more strongly linked with PTG than previously acknowledged, and highlighting the positive role of deliberate rumination. Attention to those who have been exposed to traumatic events indirectly, and interventions that encourage deliberate rumination, are essential for empowering individuals within their communities.