Network analysis of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI-X) in Peruvian adults with family members killed by COVID-19 as a function of sex

Abstract

Posttraumatic growth network structures were evaluated in males and females who lost a family member to COVID-19 to determine network variations according to sex. Six hundred sixty-nine Peruvian adults (M = 25.41, SD = 1.82) were included using the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory-X (PTGI-X) self-report measure. Two Gaussian plot models of partial correlations were estimated through the qgraph statistical package. The most central network domain items were emotional expression, closeness to others, and greater understanding of life-death issues. The highest connections were reported for items on the measures of personal relationships, appreciation for life, and spiritual-existential change. Both network models were found to be invariant and showed no significant differences at the level of structure and connections, and a difference was reported at the score level on the existential-spiritual change subscale in women.