(PS10-C54) Emotion Regulation and Repetitive Negative Thinking: An Examination of Moderating Transdiagnostic Effects on Broadband Psychopathology Symptoms

Background: Emotion-regulation (ER) problems are one of the most widely studied transdiagnostic constructs. Much of the existing literature includes rumination as a subcomponent of ER problems; however, other researchers suggest rumination is better conceptualized under the broader transdiagnostic construct of repetitive negative thinking (RNT). Individuals who experience ER problems may also experience greater RNT problems; however, it is unclear whether these constructs moderate diverse psychopathology symptom outcomes.

Method: This study utilized undergraduate students (n = 101) from a large university in the Southwestern U.S. as part of an ongoing online study. Participants completed the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, Repetitive Thinking Questionnaire – 10, and SPECTRA: Indices of Psychopathology. Moderation analyses were conducted predicting internalizing (i.e., depressive, anxious, socially anxious, and posttraumatic stress), externalizing (i.e., alcohol problems, severe aggression, antisocial problems, and drug problem), and reality-impairing (i.e., psychosis, paranoia, grandiose, and mania) symptoms.

Results: There was a significant main effect for ER (b = .49, p < .001) and RNT problems (b= .323, p < .001), but not their interaction (b = -0.02, p = .796), when predicting internalizing symptoms (R² = .50, F (3,96) = 32.37, p < .001). There was a significant main effect for ER problems (b = .57, p < .001), but not RNT problems (b = .04, p = .657) or their interaction (b = -0.01, p =.939) when predicting externalizing symptoms (R² = .35, F (3,98) = 17.66, p < .001). There was a significant main effect for ER problems (b = .35, p < .001), but not RNT problems (b = .07, p = .499) or their interaction (b = .18, p = .062) when predicting reality-impairing symptoms (R² = .19, F (3,96) = 7.29, p < .001).


Discussion: Significant main effects of ER problems across models support the transdiagnostic properties of ER problems within the literature. RNT only predicted internalizing symptoms. Therefore, ER problems may be a more influential predictor across domains of psychopathology, while RNT problems remain consequential for internalizing symptoms. Although ER and RNT problems often co-occur, insignificant interactions across models suggest these constructs’ transdiagnostic properties may be independent. However, the interaction between ER and RNT problems predicting reality-impairing symptoms approached significance with a small effect. Further data collection in this ongoing study may result in significant follow-up analyses.