Original article Future perspectives as a condition of positive adaptation of young adults after traumatic experience

• Main Author: Marzanna Farnicka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Termedia Publishing House 2014-10-01
• Series: Current Issues in Personality Psychology
• Subjects: event evaluation; expectations for the future; self-esteem; process of positive adaptation
• Online Access: http://www.termedia.pl/Original-article-Future-perspectives-as-a-condition-of-positive-adaptation-of-young-adults-after-traumatic-experience,75,23775,1,1.html

Background The paper presents the results of a study on the possible role of sense of influencing one’s life and expectations towards the future as a personal condition of adaptation. In accordance with the theory of formulation of temporal perspectives, these variables were assumed to be related to construction of the psychological reality of the subjects. Participants and procedure The study involved 162 adults in two groups, with traumatic experience and without such experience, aged 18-35. The tools used in the study included: Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES), Boszkiewicz Questionnaire: Life Experience Questionnaire, events evaluation and expectations of changes in the future. Results The study revealed significant differences between people from the two groups in the scope of self-evaluation, sense of influence on events and future expectations. Conclusions The results pointed to the need for adjustment of therapeutic and preventive treatment to future expectations, evaluation of events and the current stage of development, as indicated by personal conditions of adaptation.