What’s a positive thing that’s come out of the pandemic? How about personal growth?
A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Regina and the University of British Columbia found 77 per cent of participants reported moderate to high personal growth with respect to appreciation for healthcare workers, life, friends and family, and self-reliance, relative to COVID-19.

Dr. Gordon Asmundson with the University of Regina Department of Psychology says, “While there is considerable evidence of wide-spread emotional distress related to the current pandemic, including a specific adjustment disorder called COVID Stress Syndrome, it is possible for some people to experience positive personal change as a result of prolonged exposure to stressful events.” There’s even a phrase for that: Post-traumatic growth or PTG. Asmundson says it refers to the positive transformative power of suffering and is essentially finding the silver lining in a stressful situation.

The study also examined whether the PTG was real or illusory. Thirty two per cent of the sample showed high real growth. Seventeen per cent exhibited high illusory growth, characterized by high disability and worsening symptoms.

The study suggests that the high prevalence of self-reported PTG related to COVID-19 is an overrepresentation of actual growth and is more likely a combination of ineffectual – that is, illusory – coping and real personal growth.
“Distinguishing those who experience illusory versus real personal growth will allow us to direct mental health services to those most in need of assistance.”