EXPLORING A TRANSDIAGNOSTIC COGNITIVE VULNERABILITY TO INTERNALIZING SYMPTOMS IN ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

The structure of cognitive vulnerabilities to anxiety and depression was explored among 389 adolescents in an attempt to clarify the usefulness of a broad transdiagnostic factor versus disorder-specific facets in predicting internalizing psychopathology. Several models (i.e., single factor, correlated factor, single hierarchical, and bifactor models) were evaluated via structural equation modelling. Results indicated that the bifactor model had excellent fit, and it comprised a latent transdiagnostic cognitive vulnerability factor and eight specific vulnerabilities (negative cognitive style, dysfunctional attitudes, ruminative style, fear of negative evaluation, anxiety sensitivity, intolerance of uncertainty, maladaptive perfectionism, emotional dysregulation). The bifactor approach in organising the cognitive vulnerabilities on broad and specific levels provided evidence for a transdiagnostic factor that predicted a general internalizing factor, as well as additional unique fear-related specific-level associations. This highlights the importance of considering broad-level vulnerability-symptom associations, and has clinical implications on the design of interventions for depression and anxiety disorders.