Rumination and Perceived Risk in Seeking Social Support as Mediators of the Stressful Impact of Adversity and Posttraumatic Growth

Abstract

This study examined rumination and perceived risk of seeking social support as mediators of stress and posttraumatic growth. Participants (n = 242) who experienced adversity completed a series of online measures. Results revealed that deliberate rumination about adversity explained how stress predicted individuals’ perceived risk in seeking support. More stressful events led to an increase in both deliberate rumination and verbal co-rumination; however, deliberate rumination increased the perceived risk of seeking social support and posttraumatic growth independently, whereas verbal co-rumination decreased the risk associated with seeking support, which in turn supported posttraumatic growth.

Keywords:

• Adversity
• Posttraumatic Growth
• Rumination
• Social Support
• Stress

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Texas Christian University Research and Creative Activities Fund (Project # 60709).