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Posttraumatic Growth and Devaluation Questionnaire3

Posttraumatic Growth and Devaluation Questionnaire Test

In about 9 minutes, it helps you see how you have changed after trauma, including signs of growth and decline. The results give a balanced snapshot to guide support, therapy goals, or next steps.

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Questions: 489 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

15,013 views

1,705 completions

1,426 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

2/5

Disappointment and Skepticism (DaS)

Measures the degree of disappointment and skepticism expressed as reduced trust in others, disillusionment with people, and doubt toward societal values after trauma.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 1: Low | 2 – 3: Moderate | 4 – 5: High

A score of 2 indicates a moderate level of disappointment/skepticism, suggesting some cautiousness and lowered trust without a pervasive or dominant cynical outlook.

example score

3/5

Loss of Meaning in Life (LoMiL)

Measures the extent to which a person experiences emptiness, chaos, and devaluation of life’s meaning and motivation after difficult events.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 1: Low | 2 – 3: Moderate | 4 – 5: High

A score of 3 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable but not extreme sense of reduced meaning and motivation that may come and go across situations.

example score

2/5

Interpersonal Exhaustion (IE)

Measures the degree of exhaustion in relationships, including reduced empathy, helplessness, and depletion of interpersonal resources.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 1: Low | 2 – 3: Moderate | 4 – 5: High

A score of 2 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting noticeable but not overwhelming interpersonal depletion and some reduction in empathic capacity.

example score

3/5

Inner Constraint (IC)

Measures the degree of internal rigidity and tension expressed as feeling constrained with reduced interests and perceived capabilities.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 1.6: Low | 1.7 – 3.3: Moderate | 3.4 – 5: High

A score of 3 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting noticeable internal tension and some constraint, while still not reaching the highest intensity level.

example score

2/5

Posttraumatic Devaluation (PD)

This scale measures the degree of negative psychological changes after trauma, such as reduced interest in life, emotional rigidity, and disappointment in others.

Low devaluation

Moderate devaluation

High devaluation

0 – 1.6: Low devaluation | 1.7 – 3.3: Moderate devaluation | 3.4 – 5: High devaluation

A score of 2 falls in the Moderate devaluation range, suggesting some negative shifts are present but not strongly pronounced.

example score

3/5

Interpersonal Optimism (IO)

Interpersonal optimism measures how much you tend to trust others and expect support and goodwill from people around you.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 1: Low | 2 – 3: Moderate | 4 – 5: High

A score of 3 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a generally trusting stance with some caution or variability in how supported you feel by others.

example score

1/5

Meaning in Life (MiL)

Assesses the extent to which a person experiences life as meaningful, spiritually grounded, and accepting of the world, supporting resilience under stress.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 1.6: Low | 1.7 – 3.3: Moderate | 3.4 – 5: High

A score of 1 falls in the Low range, suggesting that feelings of purpose, fulfillment, and acceptance are currently limited or harder to access.

example score

2/5

Empathy Capacity (EC)

Assesses how well a person can understand others’ emotions and respond with supportive, attuned behavior.

Lower empathy

Moderate empathy

Higher empathy

0 – 1: Lower empathy | 2 – 3: Moderate empathy | 4 – 5: Higher empathy

A score of 2 suggests a moderate capacity to empathize, with some ability to understand and support others that may be inconsistent under stress.

example score

2/5

Inner Freedom (IF)

Inner Freedom measures openness to new experiences and the ability to maintain inner harmony and adaptability during challenging situations.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 1: Low | 2 – 3: Moderate | 4 – 5: High

A score of 2 suggests a moderate level of inner freedom, with some capacity for stability and openness to change that may fluctuate under stress.

example score

1/5

Posttraumatic Growth (PG)

Measures the extent of positive psychological changes (e.g., new perspectives, stronger relationships, personal strength, meaning) experienced after trauma.

Low growth

Moderate growth

High growth

0 – 1.6: Low growth | 1.7 – 3.3: Moderate growth | 3.4 – 5: High growth

A score of 1 falls in the Low growth range, suggesting relatively few perceived positive changes since the event at this time.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Recovering after trauma

41%OF USERS

People who have lived through a difficult event and want to understand whether they are rebuilding, feeling diminished, or both at once.

In therapy or counseling

34%OF USERS

Clients who want a clear snapshot of their inner changes to discuss with a therapist and choose what to focus on next.

Psychologists and researchers

25%OF USERS

Professionals who use the questionnaire to assess post-trauma change patterns in clients, groups, or study samples.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Disappointment/Skepticism (D)

Average

1.6

Normal range

0.7 — 2.4

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Loss of the Meaning of Existence (LotMoE)

Average

Normal range

2.3 — 3.6

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Interpersonal Burnout (IB)

Average

1.6

Normal range

0.8 — 2.3

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Inner tension (It)

Average

1.5

Normal range

0.8 — 2.1

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Post-Traumatic Devaluation (PTD) (PD()

Average

Normal range

2.3 — 3.7

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Interpersonal Optimism (IO)

Average

2.3

Normal range

1.6 — 2.9

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Meaningfulness of Life (MoL)

Average

2.9

Normal range

2 — 3.8

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

The Ability to Empathize (TAtE)

Average

Normal range

1.2 — 2.9

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Inner Freedom (IF)

Average

3.7

Normal range

3.1 — 4.3

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) (PG()

Average

2.2

Normal range

1.4 — 3

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

- 0: I did not experience this change as a result of the crisis I experienced
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5: As a result of the crisis I experienced, I have had this change to a very great extent
- 0: I did not experience this change as a result of the crisis I went through
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5: As a result of the crisis I went through, I experience this change to a very great extent
- 0: I did not experience this change as a result of the crisis I went through
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5: As a result of the crisis I went through, I experience this change to a very great degree

These are 3 of the 48 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

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WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Post-Traumatic Growth and Depreciation Questionnaire, PTGDQ Test

Posttraumatic Growth and Devaluation Questionnaire Test - Symptoms and Signs

psychopathology

ptsd

This self-report measure is designed to assess perceived psychological changes following exposure to highly stressful or traumatic events. The Posttraumatic Growth and Devaluation Questionnaire evaluates both positive shifts (growth) and negative shifts (devaluation) to support a more balanced clinical formulation. It is commonly used to characterize post-event adaptation in clinical and research contexts.

The Posttraumatic Growth and Devaluation Questionnaire consists of 48 items and typically requires about 9 minutes to complete. It was developed by Lawrence G. Calhoun and Richard G. Tedeschi. Results are generally interpreted as indicators of the respondent’s perceived post-event change across constructive and adverse domains, and may be integrated with clinical interview findings and other measures as appropriate.

Author: Lawrence G. Calhoun, Richard G. Tedeschi

Literature: Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. Posttraumatic growth: Conceptual foundations and empirical evidence. Psychological Inquiry. 2004.; Taku, K., Tedesda, R. G., & Shakespeare-Finch, J. Posttraumatic growth (PTG) and posttraumatic depreciation (PTD) across ten countries: Global valuation of the PTG-PTO theoretical model. Personality and Individual Differences. 2021.