Post-traumatic growth among school counselors during the Covid19 pandemic: The role of mindfulness and transforming power of suffering

Abstract

The aim of this study is to reveal whether mindfulness and the transformative power of pain are significant predictors of post-traumatic growth in school counselors during the COVID-19 epidemic period. In addition, it was investigated whether the post-traumatic growth scores of school counselors differ according to their childhood trauma experience and years of service. The study group of the research consists of 415 school counselors working in different regions of Turkey. The data of the study were collected through the Transformative Power of Pain, Post-Traumatic Growth and Conscious Awareness Scales and the participant information form prepared by the researchers. Research data were obtained from online platforms during the period when the COVID-19 pandemic was felt most intensely. Research results were obtained by multiple regression analysis, pearson correlation analysis, kruskal wallis test and t test. When the findings of the study were examined, it was concluded that the mindfulness scores of school counselors did not significantly predict post-traumatic growth, but the transformative power of pain scores predicted two-thirds of post-traumatic growth. In addition, significant differences were observed in the sub-dimensions of post-traumatic growth according to the status of having childhood trauma and years of service. The results were discussed in the context of the findings and the literature, and suggestions were made in relation to the results.