Confirmatory factor analysis of the post-event processing inventory in a community sample seeking self-help for social anxiety

ABSTRACT

Background: Post-event processing (PEP) refers to negative rumination following anxiety-inducing social situations. The Post-Event Processing Inventory (PEPI; Blackie & Kocovski, 2017, Development and validation of the trait and state versions of the post-event processing inventory. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 30, 202–218.) consists of both trait and state forms. Although the psychometric properties of the PEPI have been very good in past research, the factor structure of the scale was examined with student samples only.

Objectives: The primary purpose of the present study was to confirm the factor structure of the PEPI with a sample of individuals seeking self-help for social anxiety and shyness.

Design and Method: Individuals interested in receiving self-help (N = 155) completed a battery of questionnaires, including the trait and state forms of the PEPI.

Results: On each version of the scale, we confirmed that a second-order factor (global PEP) could be inferred from three first-order factors (frequency, intensity, and self-judgment).

Conclusions: The hierarchical factor structure of the PEPI in the present study is consistent with previous research. The findings from the present study illustrate the utility of the PEPI amongst a community sample of individuals seeking self-help for social anxiety.

KEYWORDS:

• Post-event processing inventory
• post-event processing
• rumination
• psychometric
• questionnaire
• social anxiety

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada in the form of a doctoral fellowship awarded to the first author; the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada under Grant 435-2018-0349 and Wilfrid Laurier University Operating Funds awarded to the second author.