Relationship of early adversity and negative emotionality to emerging adult latent internalizing
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Darha M. Ponder (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Suzanne Vrshek-Schallhorn
Abstract: Internalizing disorders are marked by negative emotion toward the self. Past research has highlighted early adversity (EA), that is, treatment which deviates from a healthy environment, as a risk factor for later internalizing behaviors. What is unclear is why some, but not all, who experience early adversity go on to experience internalizing symptoms. Prior research further suggests that negative emotionality, the propensity to experience and exhibit negative affect, may help to explain these individual differences in response to EA, although it is unclear whether these two factors function primarily independently (via main effects) or conjointly (in a multiplicative interaction). Furthermore, three constructs related to negative emotionality—neuroticism, dysfunctional attitudes, and brooding rumination—were previously thought to represent distinct constructs, but recent research suggests that dysfunctional attitudes is best modeled as part of latent negative emotionality. The present study first tests whether brooding rumination, like dysfunctional attitudes, is better modeled as part of negative emotionality or instead as its own construct. Second, it tests whether negative emotionality and EA interact to predict latent internalizing, or instead operate independently. In a majority minority sample of emerging adults (n = 768), latent moderated structural equations (LMS) were used to assess potential multiplicative or additive effects of EA and negative emotionality on the pathway to internalizing in emerging adulthood. Results indicated that brooding rumination was best modeled as a latent factor separate from but highly correlated with latent negative emotionality. Latent trait vulnerabilities and EA did not significantly interact to predict internalizing symptoms, but there were significant main effects of latent brooding rumination and negative emotionality. Although EA predicted internalizing alone, its effects were negligible once trait vulnerabilities were included in models. Implications for future methodological and etiological research were discussed.
Relationship of early adversity and negative emotionality to emerging adult latent internalizing
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Created on 5/1/2023
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- Language: English
- Date: 2023
- Keywords
- Early adversity, Internalizing, Negative emotionality
- Subjects
- Rumination (Psychology) $x Research
- Young adults $x Research
- Emotions $x Research