Network structure of rumination and resilience in adolescents with traumatic experiences: A comparison of PTSD and non-PTSD groups

Background: Prior research on rumination and resilience in trauma contexts has primarily utilized traditional statistical methods, single-sample designs, and community-based participants. As a result, symptom-level interaction patterns and network structures across varying risk levels remain unclear. This study aims to address these limitations by comparing the network structures of rumination and resilience among adolescents exposed to a public health crisis, both with and without PTSD. Methods: A total of 1,273 adolescents (mean age = 13.84 years, 50.4% female) from post-COVID-19 China participated. Using the PTSD Checklist–Civilian Version (PCL-C), 229 were identified with PTSD, and 1,044 were classified as non-PTSD. Network analysis was employed to identify key interactions and central nodes between rumination and resilience in both groups. Results: Positive cognition and goal concentration consistently emerged as central bridge nodes of resilience in both groups. Reflection showed a positive association with resilience in the non-PTSD group but demonstrated inconsistent links with resilience factors among the PTSD group. In contrast, brooding predominantly displayed negative associations with resilience, suggesting maladaptive cognitive patterns. Notably, reflection-related connections differed between groups: adolescents with PTSD had stronger links with emotional regulation and goal concentration, whereas those without PTSD exhibited stronger connections with emotional regulation and positive cognition. Conclusion: Positive cognition and emotional regulation were identified as key resilience factors. Reflection appeared adaptive in non-PTSD adolescents, whereas brooding was maladaptive across both groups. Among adolescents with PTSD, both rumination patterns disrupted cognitive-emotional regulation, indicating that interventions should focus on restructuring maladaptive cognitive patterns and preventing negative cognition.