The mediating role of self-critical rumination in the relationship between neuroticism and psychopathology among Hispanics: Testing a moderated mediation model.

INTRODUCTION: Over the last decade, Hispanics in the United States have experienced an increase in the prevalence of psychopathology. Research indicates that certain personality traits (e.g., neuroticism) play important roles in the development of psychopathology. However, there is a dearth of research on links between personality traits and mental health among Hispanics, and even less work has examined potential mechanisms that might explain these links. In the present study, we investigated the direct and indirect links between neuroticism and psychopathology through self-critical rumination, while examining the potential moderating role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in these associations.

METHODS: Participants were 800 Hispanic adults in Texas who completed measures of neuroticism, self-critical rumination, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and ACEs. Structural equation modeling was used to test direct, indirect, and moderated effects.

RESULTS: Neuroticism was positively associated with psychopathology both directly and indirectly through self-critical rumination. Although ACEs evidenced a significant positive direct link to psychopathology, they did not moderate the direct or indirect associations between neuroticism and psychopathology. Age was negatively associated with rumination, whereas biological sex showed no significant associations.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that neuroticism may be a risk factor for psychopathology among Hispanics and that negative ruminative processes may represent a potential mechanism and intervention target for this vulnerable population.