Neuroticism as a predictor of rumination and maladaptive behaviors: A prospective approach

Abstract

The Emotional Cascade Model suggests that rumination links emotional instability and engagement in maladaptive behaviors within Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Specifically, when individuals experience a negative event, they experience negative emotions and then engage in a ruminative process about the event. This rumination increases the intensity of negative feelings. This cycle continues until individuals use a maladaptive behavior to distract themselves from the rumination and negative feelings. The current study expanded this model by including neuroticism, an underlying personality trait that is highly related to BPD. Additionally, the current study provided the first longitudinal study of the Emotional Cascade Model. A large sample of undergraduate students (N = 1026) completed Time 1 and a subset of these participants completed two follow up surveys four and eight weeks later (N = 285 and 163, respectively). The current study prospectively examined the role of neuroticism, maladaptive behaviors, and rumination using a cross-lagged panel design with data collected at three time points. Neuroticism predicted rumination and maladaptive behaviors four weeks later for five different rumination measures. Additionally, rumination was tested as a latent variable. Neuroticism predicted maladaptive behaviors but not rumination in this new model. The results indicated that neuroticism is highly related to the variables within the Emotional Cascade Model and that it should be considered an important underlying personality trait within the development and maintenance of rumination, maladaptive behaviors, and BPD.