Satisfaction with Life, Big-Five Personality Traits and Posttraumatic Growth Among People Living with HIV

The current study explored the level of posttraumatic growth (PTG), treated as the explained variable, and its relationship with the level of satisfaction with life (SWL) and the Big Five personality traits, while controlling for several socio-medical variables, among people living with HIV. Participants were 470 individuals with a confirmed diagnosis of HIV infection. Participants filled out the following questionnaires: the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the NEO Five-Factor Inventory. Additionally, sociodemographic as well as medical data were obtained. Extraversion and SWL were the most important correlates of the level of PTG among participants. Personality traits (neuroticism) and socio-medical variables (antiretroviral treatment, education, relationship status) were moderators of the relationship between the level of SWL and PTG intensity in this patient group. Taking into account significant health-related benefits associated with PTG among people living with HIV, it is important to further explore psychosocial and clinical factors contributing to this positive phenomenon in this patient group.