Abstract

A retrospective cross-sectional study with a sample of 304 university students and relatives asked about the most important recent extreme life change events, its impact on basic beliefs and on personal growth following the life event. Positive events reinforce positive basic beliefs much more than negative events transform these beliefs from positive to neutral. On the other hand, positive events transform them from positive into highly positive. It was also found that extreme positive events generate as much growth or flourishing after its onset as negative events. The development of new possibilities and changes of life priorities are produced by both positive and negative extreme events. Negative events specifically produce growth effects of reinforcement of personal strength and of valuing social support. Changes in basic beliefs are congruently associated with personal growth in the case of positive and ambivalent events.