The vast majority of psychological research indicates that experiencing trauma primarily leads to negative changes in human psychological functioning, the most widespread of which is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Nevertheless, relatively recently, researchers’ attention has shifted from focusing solely on the negative to also examining the paradoxically positive consequences of traumatic experiences, which has shaped a new line of research on post-traumatic growth (PTG).

PTG describes the positive changes that may occur after experiencing traumatic events, including a greater appreciation of life, improved relationships with others, new life opportunities, personal strength, and spiritual transformation. However, after more than a quarter of a century of PTG research, many questions still remain unanswered. One of them concerns whether PTG can be cultivated through psychosocial interventions. Unfortunately, no effective intervention promoting PTG has been developed so far. There is also little research on PTG among patients struggling with trauma related to life-threatening illness. Finally, recent studies highlight the importance of examining body image in the process of PTG, which has shaped a new line of research on so-called corporeal post-traumatic growth.

In this project, we aim to develop the first online intervention promoting PTG among people living with HIV, with a particular focus on strengthening a positive body image and reducing perceived HIV/AIDS-related stigma, within a mixed-methods research design.

In other words, in addition to the quantitative analysis of variables, we will also invite people living with HIV to participate in qualitative interviews, in order to help us develop this intervention.

Moreover, today HIV/AIDS stigma is the main source of trauma among people living with HIV, although its intensity varies significantly across different countries worldwide (see the concept of structural HIV/AIDS stigma). Therefore, our project will be conducted in three countries: Poland, Ireland, and the United States.

Since most studies on HIV/AIDS stigma and PTG have so far been conducted in the United States, it is essential to expand research to additional countries in order to obtain a more complete picture of the potential impact of stigma on PTG among people living with HIV. Particularly important is the comparison between the European and American perspectives, as well as the contrasting social attitudes toward such individuals in two European countries—Poland, which has one of the highest levels of HIV/AIDS stigma, and Ireland, which has one of the lowest levels of stigma toward people living with HIV in Europe.

In summary, it is worth highlighting the benefits associated with conducting our research project.

- First, this project involves the first international intervention promoting PTG, focusing on a clinical sample of people living with HIV.

- Second, our project will be conducted within the framework of international collaboration between the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Warsaw and leading experts in PTG research from the Growth Initiative Lab at Wake Forest University in the USA, as well as researchers from the School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Ireland.

Finally, in each of the participating countries, we plan to collaborate with non-governmental organizations supporting people living with HIV, namely: the Pozytywni w Tęczy Association in Warsaw, HIV Ireland in Dublin, and the HIV and Faith Ambassadors at Wake Forest University. All of these factors highlight not only the epistemological but also the social significance of our research project.