ABSTRACT
PTG research has burgeoned over the past two decades, yet very few studies have used biomarkers and other objective methodologies to investigate it. In this chapter, we discuss the process of epigenetics, which measures how environmental factors such as trauma affect gene activity and function without altering the underlying DNA sequence. The genes inherited from parents moderate the likelihood of different posttraumatic outcomes. This genetic predisposition then interacts with environmental factors, such as lived experiences, to further moderate the underlying risks. These changes are dynamic, with prosocial and therapeutic practices able to assist recovery after the damage done by trauma. We describe world-first studies that integrate cutting-edge genomics methods with psychosocial risk and protective factors to identify novel genes associated with PTG. Epigenetic studies provide biological evidence supporting the theoretical model of PTG, which had previously been described by clinicians based on their observations and revealed through numerous research studies.
