(PS4-C53) Rumination Predicts PTSD Symptoms Beyond Anxiety Sensitivity

Anxiety sensitivity (AS) is characterized as the tendency to fear anxiety-related symptoms due to beliefs that their occurrence will have negative somatic, cognitive, or social consequences (Taylor et al., 2007). AS is consistently associated with the development and exacerbation of PTSD symptoms (Fedoroff, et al., 2000). As such, those high in AS may fear and avoid anxiety-related cognitive and emotional symptoms, which may enhance the risk of PTSD (Taylor, 2003). Another relevant cognitive factor associated with PTSD symptoms is rumination. Rumination is conceptualized as a response to stress that involves a maladaptive, repetitive and passive focus on distress, which does not lead to active problem solving (Nolen-Hoeksema et al., 2008). Evidence demonstrates that rumination may serve to intensify and maintain PTSD symptoms (Elwood et al., 2009), potentially as an ineffective cognitive strategy which leads to misinterpretation and negative evaluation of intrusive trauma memories (Ehring et al., 2008; Ehlers and Clark, 2000). Despite the established association between AS and PTSD, few studies have explored the role of rumination beyond dimensions of AS in PTSD. To address this limitation, the current study examined the role of rumination beyond characteristics of AS in PTSD as well as the moderating role of rumination in this relation.

Participants were 538 university students (M_age = 19.28 years; 71.7% female) who completed self-report measures designed to assess PTSD symptoms (PLC-5; Weathers et al., 2013), tendency to engage in rumination (Rumination Scale, Nolen-Hoeksema, S., 2003), and AS (Anxiety Sensitivity Index–3; Taylor et al., 2007).

A hierarchical linear regression analysis indicated that AS somatic (β = .09, p= .06), cognitive (β =.28, p < .001), and social (β = .19, p < .001) concerns significantly predicted PTSD symptoms in the first step of the model (R² = .23, F(3, 534) = 52.63, p < .001). Rumination (β = .43, p < .001) predicted PTSD symptoms beyond AS in the second step of the model (ΔR² = .12, ΔF(1, 533) = 94.81, p < .001). The overall model significantly predicted PTSD symptoms (total R² = .34, F(4, 533) = 70.11, p < .001). All interaction effects between rumination and dimensions of AS were nonsignificant (ps > .05).

Consistent with extant literature, findings demonstrate that AS, particularly cognitive and social concerns, are associated with PTSD symptoms. Findings further suggest that rumination is relevant in PTSD symptoms beyond cognitive vulnerability experience by AS. However, findings failed to observe an interaction between AS and rumination, suggesting that rumination may not influence the effect of AS on PTSD symptoms. Clinical implications, limitations of current findings, and future research directions will be discussed.