Abstract
AbstractThe purpose of this study was to cultivate an understanding of posttraumatic resilience and personal growth as a transformative learning process. It was guided by the emerging themes found in an integrative literature review which was framed by Mezirow’s transformative learning theory. The themes were maximizing connections, internal and external self-mastery, comfort through building optimism and positive experiences, change by revising old belief systems for new meaning-making, and coping by engaging in a grieving process. This interpretive phenomenological analysis included four individuals living with a rare cancer who demonstrated resilience and personal growth following their diagnosis. Participants engaged in a semi-structured, interpretive phenomenological three-interview process. Data was analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. The findings of this study were intended to add to the conceptual model developed through the literature review. The findings indicated that transformative learning can facilitate human flourishing and posttraumatic growth and confirms that transformative learning occurs through self-discovery, relationships and community, adapting to adversity, and spirituality.
Keywords: transformative learning, learned resilience, posttraumatic resilience, posttraumatic growth, human-flourishing, and eudaimonia.