KINDING: A Theory of Human Growth Through Positive Self-leadership

Abstract

While trauma research has traditionally focused on pathological outcomes, attention has shifted toward understanding post-traumatic growth or positive psychological changes that can emerge from struggling with highly challenging events. However, existing post-traumatic growth theories provide limited guidance on how individuals can actively facilitate their own growth. This study introduced and empirically validated the KINDING Theory of Human Growth Through Positive Self-Leadership, a novel framework that integrates positive self-leadership theory and affective neuroscience to explain how positive emotions, cognitions, and behaviors can facilitate growth following trauma. A cross-sectional survey design was employed with 489 adults engages in higher education institutions across Michigan. The study utilized the newly developed and validated KINDING Scale of Positive Practices. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, factor analysis, simple and multiple regression analysis, and path analysis to examine relationships among KINDING components and their association with post-traumatic growth as measured by the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory. Factor analysis confirmed the seven-component structure of the KINDING theory with strong factor loadings. All KINDING components significantly predicted subsequent components in the theoretical sequence, supporting the spiraling progression model. Path analysis revealed that the full model explained 47% of variance in post-traumatic growth. Dreams and Imagination emerged as the strongest direct predictors of post-traumatic growth, while Kindness showed a surprising negative direct effect but significant positive indirect effect, suggesting it may function as a foundation enabling other growth processes. Distinct patterns emerged for self-directed versus other-directed growth, with Dreams and Implementation most strongly predicting self-directed growth, while Gratitude and Imagination best predicted other-directed growth. This research makes significant theoretical, empirical, and practical contributions to understanding post-traumatic growth. Theoretically, it extends existing post-traumatic growth models by demonstrating how positive self-leadership practices can actively facilitate growth rather than merely describing outcomes. The KINDING Scale provides researchers with a validated instrument for measuring positive practices in trauma recovery contexts. Practically, findings suggest that interventions emphasizing goal-setting, visualization, self-compassion, meaning-making, and gratitude may enhance individuals' capacity for growth following adversity. For higher education settings, results support implementing trauma-informed approaches that incorporate positive self-leadership principles in student support services, counseling programs, and professional development initiatives. In conclusion, the KINDING Theory of Human Growth Through Positive Self-Leadership represents a paradigmatic shift from passive to active models of trauma recovery, providing both theoretical understanding and practical tools for facilitating post-traumatic growth. By demonstrating that individuals can actively lead themselves toward positive outcomes following trauma through intentional engagement in positive practices, this research offers hope and empowerment to trauma survivors while providing evidence-based guidance for practitioners and institutions supporting trauma recovery. The findings establish a foundation for future longitudinal research, intervention development, and cross-cultural validation of the KINDING framework