Candidate transdiagnostic processes linking potentially traumatic experiences to psychopathology, mental well-being and resilience in emerging adults.

BACKGROUND

Potentially traumatic events (PTEs), including socially contextualized adversities such as exclusion and discrimination, are common at the population level and associated with diverse mental health outcomes. Transdiagnostic process variables may help characterize how PTE indicators and different mental health outcomes are interrelated beyond disorder-specific frameworks.

METHODS

We analyzed data from a population-based sample of 3,051 emerging adults to examine whether theoretically informed transdiagnostic psychological processes were statistically positioned between PTE indicators and mental health outcomes, including psychopathology, positive mental health, and resilience. Guided by transdiagnostic and dimensional frameworks, we used structural equation models to estimate cross-sectional indirect associations.

RESULTS

Three higher-order transdiagnostic factors-cognitive-focused, emotional-focused, and social-focused processes-were identified. Emotional-focused processes accounted for the largest proportion of cross-sectional indirect associations across mental health outcomes. Among the examined PTEs, social exclusion showed the strongest and most consistent associations with mental health. Overall, the models accounted for more variance in internalizing symptoms than in externalizing symptoms or positive mental health outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the relevance of candidate transdiagnostic process variables for understanding mental health following exposure to adversity. By incorporating positive mental health and resilience outcomes, the results underscore the potential of targeting shared psychological processes-particularly emotional-focused mechanisms-for assessment, prevention, and early intervention in psychiatric practice.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.