Physical activity and
Posttraumatic growth
Chichester Centre of Applied Sport and Exercise Sciences (CCASES)
Chichester University
June 25th, 2014
Dr. Kate Hefferon, PhD
Programme Leader- MSc. Applied Positive Psychology
Head of the Posttraumatic Growth Research Unit
University of East London
London, UK
Outline
 Physical activity and well-being
 Post-traumatic Growth (PTG)
 Corporeal Posttraumatic Growth
 Conclusions and questions
Physical activity and Wellbeing

Physical activity is a ‘stellar’ method of
intervening to promote well-being
(Hefferon & Mutrie, 2012)

Reduces the risk of developing several
diseases

Produces both hedonic and eudaimonic experiences of well-being including: positive
emotions, self esteem, body image, cognitive functioning, psychological well being,
posttraumatic growth, flow, purpose in life, etc.
 Mens sana in corpore sano: Healthy body = healthy mind (Somatopsychic Principle)
 Build psychological and emotional strength via the building of physical strength
(Faulkner, Hefferon & Mutrie, In press)
Psychological Resilience
“the flexibility in response to changing situational
demands, and the ability to bounce back from
negative emotional
experiences”
(Tugade, Fredrickson, & Barrett, 2004b, p. 1169)
•
Recovery, resistance and reconfiguration (Lepore & Revenson,
2006)
Posttraumatic growth (PTG)
“It is through this process of struggling with adversity that changes
may arise that propels the individual to a higher level of
functioning than which existed prior to the event.”(Linley & Joseph, 2004, p. 11)
•
40-70% experience some positive benefits from trauma
•
Focus is not to advocate suffering as a situation worth striving for, but rather to
examine the phenomenon in which suffering and grief can co-exist with
enlightenment and growth (Linley and Joseph, 2004)
1) Perceived changes in self













Becoming stronger
More confident
New awareness of a possible self authentic self
A ‘better self ’
Deeper
More open
More empathetic
More creative
More alive
More mature
More humanitarian
More special
More humble
(Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1995, p. 456).
2) Improved relationships
 Closer relationships with family and/or friends
 Neighbours
 Fellow trauma survivors
 Strangers
 Find out who “True friends” are
3) Changing life philosophy/
increased existential awareness
 Reflection of mortality
 Meaning and purpose in life
 Finding reasons/making meaning from the trauma
 ‘Vulnerability’ and ‘the shortness of time’
‘Once you worry about whether you are going to die, nothing else seems quite as
significant to worry about’
(Kennedy, Tellegen, Kennedy, & Havernick, 1976)
4) Changed priorities
 How and with whom they decided to spend their day
 Appearance
 Nature
 Monetary goods
 Health
 New appreciation of life (calling it a ‘gift’)
 The ‘here and now’
 Simple things
 Time
 Change life goals
 Learn new skills
 Go back to school
5) Enhanced spiritual beliefs
 Increased spirituality
 Return to faith
 Spiritual practices
 Praying
 Attending church
 Gratitude to God
 Strengthening of faith
 Bereavement
 Importance and existence differs across culture
(Tedeschi et al., 2010)
Example of growth
“And it’s…and I feel my life’s better! I know it sounds
crazy (laughs), but I feel the quality of my life is better
because (sniffles) I’ve prioritized (sniffles) and I know what
matters.”
Brenda, Cancer survivor
Benefits of PTG
Improved Physical Functioning
Improved Psychological Functioning
Reduced substance misuse
Reduced distress, anxiety and
depression
Improved quality of life
Gender
Rumination
Age
Social
support
Coping
styles
PTG
Time since
trauma
SES
Personality
traits
Education
Trauma
severity
Physical activity and PTG

Physical activity and sport in facilitation and as an outcome of
posttraumatic growth

Breast cancer patients

Spinal cord injury

Paralympians

Severe and enduring mental health service users

Acquired disability

Very new research area

Predominantly qualitative research
 Breast cancer patients
 Exercise intervention during chemotherapy
 Women attributed much of their process and outcomes of
PTG to the experience of participating in the exercise
programme during rehabilitation
 Physical Activity as BOTH a facilitator and an outcome
Physical activity: “Savior” during difficult time
Healthy
distraction
Camaraderie
and positive
support
Normalized
activity
Purpose and
structure
Safe place
Expertise of
instructors
Active
coping
Physical activity as an outcome of PTG
Reconnection
to body
Body as a
barometer
Transference
of skills
The
somatopsychic
Principle
Responsibility
for own health
New health
behavoiurs
 5-year follow up of physical activity intervention
 70% of those who serendipitously reported PTG were
in the original exercise intervention
 Suggests “window of opportunity” (teachable
moment)
(Mutrie et al., 2012; Hefferon, 2012; Hefferon et al., 2013; Murphy et al., in press)
Main Theme
Subtheme
Gone off track
Loss of physical self
Loss of confident self
Endeavour
Social re-integration
Free to ‘Be’
Class constituents
Wayne
Evoke power
Main Theme
Subtheme
Praise of class
A focused challenge
Healthy escape
Camaraderie
Wayne
Superstar status
Proxy Efficacy
Wayne's gym
Path to Metamorphosis
Lost and found
Somato-psychic principle
in practice
Heightened awareness of
health
Paralympians
(Kampan, 2013; Kampman and Hefferon, 2014;)
Body in
facilitating
PTG
Fundamental
route to
experiencing
(PTG)
Platform for
recovery
Provided
camaraderie
and
achievement
Promoted a
sense of
equality
Sport
Share
practical
ideas
Base for new
identity as an
athlete
Learn new
skills
Team as a
resource
Safe
environment
Reconnection to the body
(Hefferon, Grealy & Mutrie, 2009; 2010)

In traumas where the body has been damaged or altered, the body has been
found to be:
1) A vital component to the process and outcomes of PTG
2) Integral component to their self identity (influencing PTG facilitation)
NEW BODY
Fear of new
body
Systematic
decline in
functioning
Reconnection
to body
Achievement
of PTG

Participants discuss visceral experiences not mentioned in current tools

They can experience dramatic changes to their body which can make them
feel a sense of betrayal by their body (as the transgressor)

PTG can be experienced via the renegotiation of this corporeal relationship
Preliminary Model of Corporeal Posttraumatic growth (Hefferon, 2013)
Assumptive beliefs
Person-Pre trauma
Taken-for-granted body
Body-related traumatic event
(illness, injury)
The body is
used as a
facilitator
and as an
outcome of
PTG
Corporeal Awareness
Fear of New body
Sport and
Physical
activity
(Vengeful, loss of control)
Systematic decline in
functioning
(Alienation of body from the self)
Reconnection to body
New relationship with body
Listen
to body
Non-taken-for granted body
Increased awareness of health
Health behaviour changes
(Exercise and diet, cessation of negative health
behaviors)
Current Projects
 Posttraumatic Growth Research Unit (UEL)
 PTG and acquired disability within Paralympians
 PTG and acquired disability within leisure sports
 Passion, peak performance and PTG (Olympic and
Paralympic sports) (English Institute of Sport)
 PTG and Wheelchair Basketball (London)
 PTG interventions (E-mpower)
 Corporeal Posttraumatic Growth Scale development
Conclusions and Considerations

Physical activity can be utlised to increase both physical and
psychological well being

Posttraumatic growth is the phenomenon of surpassing previous levels of
functioning than which existed before a traumatic event occurred

Research into Sport, Physical activity and PTG is a rapidly expanding
area

There is a need for further multi-method evaluations of these links

Ultimately, there is a need for a more corporeal approach to PTG
following trauma
Resources

www.katehefferon.com

Posttraumatic Growth Research
Unithttp://www.uel.ac.uk/psychology/research/PTGunit/

Hefferon, K. (2013). Positive Psychology and the Body: The
somatopsychic side to flourishing. London: Open University
Press.

Joseph, S. (2011). What Doesn't Kill Us Makes Us Stronger: The New
Psychology of Posttraumatic Growth. Basic Books.

Centre for Trauma, Resilience and Growth (CTRG) Nottingham University
http://www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/our-services/localservices/specialist-services/prescribed-services/trauma/

University of Toronto Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education
http://physical.utoronto.ca/FacultyAndResearch/Research_Areas.aspx
Thank you
k.hefferon@uel.ac.uk
www.katehefferon.com
@katehefferon