The dissertation research is devoted to an empirical study of the phenomenon of personal growth of participants in an antiterrorist operation (ATO) in the post-traumatic period, the definition of its structure and main determinants. The dissertation outlines the work of the theoretical definition of personal growth in the post-traumatic period (post-traumatic growth), reveals its essential content and demonstrates the current trends in scientific research of this phenomenon among the combatants. The main theoretical models of the conceptualization of post-traumatic growth are analyzed and their key positions are determined. The adaptation of two psychodiagnostic methods: "Posttraumatic Growth Inventory" and "Changes in Outlook Questionnaire". The psychometric indicators of the Ukrainian-language versions of the aforementioned methods were established, which showed their high level of reliability and validity. A high level of representation of post-traumatic growth among ATO participants has been established and three areas of its incidence "changes in the perception of its "I"/new opportunities" are shown - it describes positive changes in the sphere of perception of the soldier's own "I", the emergence of new opportunities and increase in personality coherence; "Interpersonal relations" - describes positive changes in the sphere of interpersonal relations; "Life philosophy" - describes the positive changes concerning the philosophy of life: priorities, understanding of the world and yourself, spirituality. The greatest expression has reached the scope of changes in the perception of its "I" and the emergence of new opportunities. The least manifestation showed positive changes in the sphere of interpersonal relations. The empirical objectification of the post-traumatic growth of ATO participants was carried out, which showed that this phenomenon includes actual changes in the personality of the serviceman, goes beyond the simple display of positive illusions or striving for social approval. The relationship between the post-traumatic growth of ATO participants and three groups of determinants is demonstrated: situational-demographic (age, social status, intensity of combat experience), individual psychological (personality characteristics, dispositions optimism, coping strategies, locus of control) and socio-psychological (social support). In particular, a negative correlation was found between the level of post-traumatic growth and age characteristics of ATO participants, as well as a positive relationship between growth and intensity of combat experience. The study of individual psychological determinants allowed to establish a positive relationship between post-traumatic growth and such personality characteristics as "goodwill" and "good faith", level of dispositional optimism, internal locus of control, and some problem-oriented coping strategies. There was also a positive relationship between the post-traumatic growth of ATO participants and social support. A regression equation was constructed to predict the overall rate of post-traumatic growth of ATO participants, which included seven key predictors: overall social support, coping strategy, positive revaluation, age of servicemen (negative value), coping strategy, confrontation (negative value), goodwill, intensity of combat experience, dispositional optimism. The relationship between the manifestation of personal growth of participants in the ATO in the post-traumatic period and destructive psychological changes is determined. A significant negative correlation was established between the severity of post-traumatic growth and depressive symptoms and the absence of a statistically significant one. Post-traumatic growth of participants in the ATO and symptoms of post-traumatic stress did not correlate with each other at a statistically significant level. Key words: personal growth in the post-traumatic period, post-traumatic growth, participants in hostilities, anti-terrorist operation, post-traumatic stress, warfare.
