PTSD, rumination, and psychological health: examination of multi-group models among military veterans and college students

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder associated with negative mental health problems. Rumination is a multifaceted cognitive process of uncontrollable thoughts similar to worry and is associated with greater severity of PTSD symptoms. Relationships between PTSD, rumination, and mental health problems have been identified in military and college student populations, but research comparing these associations across these populations is scarce. The present study compared relationships among PTSD, four facets of rumination (problem-focused, counterfactual, repetitive and anticipatory thoughts) and anxiety, depression and suicidality in military-affiliated personnel [mostly veterans] (n = 407) and non-military college students (n = 310). For both military and student samples, PTSD -> was significantly positively associated with each rumination facet and mental health outcome. PTSD -> mental health outcome relationships were stronger among the military sample compared to student sample (no significant differences in PTSD rumination facets associations). Additionally, the relationship between problem-focused ruminative thoughts and suicidality was stronger among the military sample compared to student sample. Although preliminary, our results support the utility of examining different facets of rumination as risk factors associated with PTSD and mental health problems and provide a potential target in clinical treatment. Future research may examine additional variables that may be related to the stronger effects of PTSD on suicidality seen in veterans compared to college students.

Automated summary

This study compared the relationships among PTSD, different facets of rumination (problem-focused, counterfactual, repetitive, and anticipatory thoughts), and anxiety, depression, and suicidality in military-affiliated personnel and non-military college students. The results showed that PTSD was positively associated with each rumination facet and mental health outcome in both the military and student samples, but the relationships were stronger in the military sample. The relationship between problem-focused ruminative thoughts and suicidality was also stronger in the military sample compared to the student sample.