The Development and Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of the Negative Beliefs about Post-Event Processing Scale.

BACKGROUND: Although negative beliefs have been found to be associated with worry symptoms and depressive rumination, negative beliefs have yet to be examined in relation to post-event processing and social anxiety symptoms. AIMS: The purpose of the current study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Negative Beliefs about Post-Event Processing Questionnaire (NB-PEPQ). METHOD: A large, non-referred undergraduate sample completed the NB-PEPQ along with validation measures, including a measure of post-event processing and social anxiety symptoms. RESULTS: Based on factor analysis, a single-factor model was obtained, and the NB-PEPQ was found to exhibit good validity, including positive associations with measures of post-event processing and social anxiety symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: These findings add to the literature on the metacognitive variables that may lead to the development and maintenance of post-event processing and social anxiety symptoms, and have relevant clinical applications.

Examination of the Contribution of Ruminative Thinking and Maladaptive Self-Beliefs to Social Anxiety.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relative contribution of 3 components of the Clark and Wells (1995) model to social anxiety symptoms. In particular, based on theory and previous research, it was hypothesized that the association between post-event processing and social anxiety and between anticipatory anxiety and social anxiety would be mediated by maladaptive self-beliefs. To test this hypothesis, a large, nonclinical sample of young adults completed a measure of anticipatory processing, post-event processing, maladaptive self-beliefs, and social anxiety. Based on a structural equation modeling approach, full mediation was found between post-event processing and social anxiety, and partial mediation was found between anticipatory processing and social anxiety. Overall, the results contribute to the literature by elucidating cognitive processes that may lead to the development and maintenance of social anxiety symptoms.