Cross-generational posttraumatic growth after coming out

Trauma, though painful and potentially life altering, is not the end of the road. There is an immense opportunity for positive transformation to follow traumatic experiences. The notion that traumatic events can produce positive consequences is not a new concept, and the study of “posttraumatic growth” has become more prominent in the literature since Tedeschi and Calhoun’s work in the early 2000’s. In this study, age-related differences in posttraumatic growth (PTG) among gay men was examined, with a specific focus on three measures of growth. Two hundred and ten men were divided into three age cohorts (young, middle, and older adults), and completed the Stress-Related Growth Scale (SRGS), Coming Out Growth Scale (COGS), and Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). A series of multivariate analyses of covariance (MANCOVAs) were conducted to assess group differences across each measure while controlling for level of outness. Results indicated significant age group differences in all three measures of growth, and that age group was significantly associated with growth on several subscale domains. Older adults reported significantly higher levels of growth in cognitive and existential domains, including mature thinking, new possibilities, appreciation of life, and both individualistic and collectivistic growth, compared to younger participants. These findings support developmental theories of growth and suggest that age may provide increased opportunities for meaning-making, identity integration, and personal transformation among sexual minority individuals. Implications for clinical practice, identity-affirming interventions, and future research are discussed.