A bioecological approach to conceptualising posttraumatic growth in psychosis

Fiona Ng; Gerald Jordan; Felix Lewandowski; Benjamin-Rose Ingall; Mike Slade

doi:10.1080/17522439.2024.2360964

A bioecological approach to conceptualising posttraumatic growth in psychosis

Fiona Ng^*, Gerald Jordan, Felix Lewandowski, Benjamin-Rose Ingall, Mike Slade

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Psychological Science

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Posttraumatic growth (PTG) refers to positive psychological changes arising from adversity. PTG in psychosis is an emerging area of focus, however the individualistic conceptualisation of PTG has been questioned. We extend these debates to consider environmental influences on PTG in psychosis.

Methods: In this paper, we outline the application of Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Model to PTG in psychosis.

Results: The Bioecological Model comprises six ecological systems; 1) biophysical (individual characteristics), 2) microsystem (immediate environment), 3) mesosystem (system interactions), 4) exosystem (impact on individual despite minimal participation), 5) macrosystem (cultural/societal influences), and 6) chronosystem (time).

Discussion: PTG in psychosis research has predominately focused on the biophysical ecosystem. We argue that extending PTG research to address the other systems will be advantageous, providing an ecologically valid conceptualisation of PTG and the development of a causal model of PTG in psychosis. Implications for future research are discussed.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	314-320
Number of pages	7
Journal	Psychosis
Volume	17
Issue number	3
Early online date	12 Jun 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/17522439.2024.2360964
Publication status	Published - 3 Jul 2025

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© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

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title = "A bioecological approach to conceptualising posttraumatic growth in psychosis",

abstract = "Background: Posttraumatic growth (PTG) refers to positive psychological changes arising from adversity. PTG in psychosis is an emerging area of focus, however the individualistic conceptualisation of PTG has been questioned. We extend these debates to consider environmental influences on PTG in psychosis. Methods: In this paper, we outline the application of Bronfenbrenner{\textquoteright}s Bioecological Model to PTG in psychosis. Results: The Bioecological Model comprises six ecological systems; 1) biophysical (individual characteristics), 2) microsystem (immediate environment), 3) mesosystem (system interactions), 4) exosystem (impact on individual despite minimal participation), 5) macrosystem (cultural/societal influences), and 6) chronosystem (time). Discussion: PTG in psychosis research has predominately focused on the biophysical ecosystem. We argue that extending PTG research to address the other systems will be advantageous, providing an ecologically valid conceptualisation of PTG and the development of a causal model of PTG in psychosis. Implications for future research are discussed.",

author = "Fiona Ng and Gerald Jordan and Felix Lewandowski and Benjamin-Rose Ingall and Mike Slade",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor \& Francis Group.",

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doi = "10.1080/17522439.2024.2360964",

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T1 - A bioecological approach to conceptualising posttraumatic growth in psychosis

AU - Ng, Fiona

AU - Jordan, Gerald

AU - Lewandowski, Felix

AU - Ingall, Benjamin-Rose

AU - Slade, Mike

PY - 2025/7/3

Y1 - 2025/7/3

N2 - Background: Posttraumatic growth (PTG) refers to positive psychological changes arising from adversity. PTG in psychosis is an emerging area of focus, however the individualistic conceptualisation of PTG has been questioned. We extend these debates to consider environmental influences on PTG in psychosis. Methods: In this paper, we outline the application of Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Model to PTG in psychosis. Results: The Bioecological Model comprises six ecological systems; 1) biophysical (individual characteristics), 2) microsystem (immediate environment), 3) mesosystem (system interactions), 4) exosystem (impact on individual despite minimal participation), 5) macrosystem (cultural/societal influences), and 6) chronosystem (time). Discussion: PTG in psychosis research has predominately focused on the biophysical ecosystem. We argue that extending PTG research to address the other systems will be advantageous, providing an ecologically valid conceptualisation of PTG and the development of a causal model of PTG in psychosis. Implications for future research are discussed.

AB - Background: Posttraumatic growth (PTG) refers to positive psychological changes arising from adversity. PTG in psychosis is an emerging area of focus, however the individualistic conceptualisation of PTG has been questioned. We extend these debates to consider environmental influences on PTG in psychosis. Methods: In this paper, we outline the application of Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Model to PTG in psychosis. Results: The Bioecological Model comprises six ecological systems; 1) biophysical (individual characteristics), 2) microsystem (immediate environment), 3) mesosystem (system interactions), 4) exosystem (impact on individual despite minimal participation), 5) macrosystem (cultural/societal influences), and 6) chronosystem (time). Discussion: PTG in psychosis research has predominately focused on the biophysical ecosystem. We argue that extending PTG research to address the other systems will be advantageous, providing an ecologically valid conceptualisation of PTG and the development of a causal model of PTG in psychosis. Implications for future research are discussed.

U2 - 10.1080/17522439.2024.2360964

DO - 10.1080/17522439.2024.2360964

M3 - Article (Academic Journal)

SN - 1752-2447

VL - 17

SP - 314

EP - 320

JO - Psychosis

JF - Psychosis

IS - 3

ER -

A bioecological approach to conceptualising posttraumatic growth in psychosis

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