Development and validation of the trait and state versions of the Post-Event Processing Inventory

Area of Science:

• Psychological Assessment
• Social Psychology

Background:

• Post-event processing (PEP) involves prolonged negative rumination after anxiety-provoking social situations.
• Existing PEP measures are often situation-specific (e.g., public speaking) and lack trait assessments.
• There is a need for a comprehensive measure of PEP applicable across various social contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Post-Event Processing Inventory (PEPI).
• The PEPI aims to assess PEP following any social situation.
• The scale includes both trait (general tendency) and state (specific instance) forms.

Main Methods:

• Two studies with student samples (N=220 and N=199) were conducted.
• Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to determine the scale's structure.
• Validity and reliability were assessed through various psychometric analyses.

Main Results:

• A higher-order general PEP factor was identified, supported by three sub-domains: intensity, frequency, and self-judgment.
• Preliminary evidence confirmed the convergent, concurrent, discriminant, incremental, and predictive validity of both PEPI forms.
• Both trait and state PEPI forms demonstrated excellent internal consistency, with the trait form showing high test-retest reliability.

Conclusions:

• The Post-Event Processing Inventory (PEPI) offers a versatile and potentially superior alternative to existing PEP measures.
• The PEPI's trait and state forms provide comprehensive assessment of post-event processing.
• This new scale can aid in understanding and potentially mitigating the impact of negative rumination.