Exploring Of Post-Traumatic Growth Coping Styles in Patients with Covid-19: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Aim and Background: Covid-19 as a stressor causes several psychological disorders and physical problems around the world, but some people experience post-traumatic growth despite these problems. The aim of this study was to explain post-traumatic growth coping styles based on the experiences of patients with Covid-19. Methods and Materials: Qualitative research design was done by thematic analysis method. Twenty-five participants were selected using purposive sampling and interviewed using semi-structured and in-depth interviews. Purposeful sampling was used to achieve data saturation. Data were analyzed according to the step-by-step process of Brown and Clark content analysis using MAXQDA software. Findings: Data analysis resulted in 96 primary codes, 31 basic themes, and 13 organizing themes. The most important coping styles of patients growing from Corona were: deep thinking style, prayer style, trusting style, hopeful style, modeling style, normalization style, acceptance style, Problem solving style, Meaningful style, Conscious procrastination style, Emotional outburst style, Humorous style, and Supportive style. Finally, the validity and reliability of the identified styles were confirmed using Lincoln and Gaba methods along with four indicators of credibility, conformability, dependability and transformability. Conclusions: grown individuals have a wide range of coping styles that they use to cope with the stress of Covid-19 disease. The results of this study can significantly help to design the scale of assessment, educational and therapeutic interventions of coping styles that facilitate post-traumatic growth in Covid-19 patients.

Keywords

• post-traumatic growth
• coping styles
• covid-19
• qualitative method.