The relationship between perseverative cognitions and mental health and physical health complaints among college students

Figures & data

Table 1. Bivariate correlations of perseverative cognitions, PTSD symptomatology, mental health, and physical health complaints

	1.	2.	3.	4.	5.
1. PCs (TCQ)	–
2. PCs (WBSI)	.51***	–
3. PTSD symptomatology (PCL)	.45***	.42***	–
4. Mental Health (GHQ)	.40***	.36***	.51***	–
5. Physical Health Complaints (PILL)	.42***	.42***	.40***	.31***	–
Possible Range	1–4	1–5	17–85	1–4	1–5
M	1.74	3.58	40.63	2.23	2.17
SD	0.46	0.81	13.83	0.52	0.57

Note: ***p < .001. PCs = Perseverative Cognitions; TCQ = Thought Control Questionnaire; WBSI = White Bear Suppression Inventory; PCL = PTSD Checklist; GHQ = General Health Questionnaire; PILL = Pennebaker Inventory of Limbic Languidness.

Table 2. Multivariate regressions testing PCs, gender, and age as predictors of mental and physical health

	PTSD Symptomatology (PCL)	Mental Health (GHQ)	Physical Health Complaints (PILL)
PCs	.48***	.43***	.46***
Gender	.02	.01	.14***
Age	−.03	−.004	.02
Model Statistics
df	3, 485	3, 485	3, 485
F	50.71	36.57	53.54
p	< .001	< .001	< .001
r^2	.24	.18	.25

Note: ***p < .001. PCs = Perseverative Cognitions (combined Thought Control Questionnaire and White Bear Suppression Inventory); PCL = PTSD Checklist; GHQ = General Health Questionnaire; PILL = Pennebaker Inventory of Limbic Languidness. Gender is a dichotomous variable (0 = Male, 1 = Female). Standardized beta coefficients are reported.

Figure 1. Structural equation model testing for indirect effects of perseverative cognitions on mental health and physical health complaints via PTSD symptomatology. The percentages by mental and physical health indicate the amount of variance of these variables that is explained by the model.

***p < .001.