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Cited by 75Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchGrief, Bereavement, and Mental HealthAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Rumination mediates the relationships of fear and guilt to posttraumatic stress disorder and posttraumatic growth among adolescents after the Ya’an earthquake

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Wang, Wenchao, Wu, Xinchun, Lan, Xiaoyu·2020·European Journal of Psychotraumatology
DOI 10.1080/20008198.2019.1704993PMC PMC6968513
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Abstract

Background: Although previous research has demonstrated that fear and guilt have an effect on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), it is still unclear how these two emotions affect posttraumatic growth (PTG). Moreover, few studies have examined the mechanisms by which fear and guilt affect PTSD and PTG. Guided by Lee et al.’s theory of PTSD generation mechanisms and Calhoun and Tedeschi’s PTG theory, the current study proposes that intrusive rumination (IR) and deliberate rumination (DR) may play a mediating role in the effects of guilt and fear on PTSD and PTG.Objective: This study aimed to simultaneously examine the mediating roles of IR and DR in the relationship between fear, guilt, PTSD, and PTG.Method: This study employed a two-wave longitudinal design. A total of 408 adolescent survivors were assessed using self-report questionnaires after the Ya’an earthquake in China. Measures were obtained for trauma exposure, subjective fear, survivor guilt, IR, and DR at three and a half years after the Ya’an earthquake (Time 1), while PTSD and PTG were assessed at time point four and a half years after the Ya’an earthquake (Time 2).Results: The results showed that both fear and guilt had a direct and positive effect on PTSD and PTG. Fear and guilt were positive predictors of PTSD and negative predictors of PTG through the mediating variable of IR. DR mediated the relationship between guilt and PTG but not PTSD, and also mediated the relationship between IR and PTG.Conclusions: Study findings indicate that fear, guilt, and intrusive rumination may contribute to PTSD symptoms in adolescent trauma survivors. Results also suggest that adolescent survivors can grow emotionally and psychologically following traumatic events, and that directed rumination may contribute to such growth. Interventions that reduce fear, guilt, and intrusive rumination while increasing directed rumination may assist adolescent trauma survivors in recovery and growth.

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Cited by

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Authors
Wang, W., Wu, X., & Lan, X.
Affiliations
Beijing Normal University (CN)
Corresponding author
Wu, Xinchun
ORCID
Venue
European Journal of Psychotraumatology
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2020-01-10
Volume
11
Issue
1
Pages
1704993-1704993
ISSN
2000-8066 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1080/20008198.2019.1704993
PMC
PMC6968513
OpenAlex
W2999457363
Cited by
75
References
12
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 1
FWCI
3.90
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • European Journal of Psychotraumatology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Major Project of Beijing Social Science Fund (15ZDA11)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords
rumination, intrusive rumination, deliberate rumination, fear, survivor guilt, post-traumatic stress disorder, posttraumatic growth, adolescents, earthquake survivors, Ya'an earthquake, mediation, trauma recovery

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