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• First study to assess the factor structure of the SARQ in a clinical SAD sample. • One factor solutions demonstrated for the SARQ: Pre-event and SARQ: Post-event. • The SARQ demonstrated good validity and reliability. • The SARQ showed responsivity to treatment and clinical utility. • SARQ assesses rumination in relation to a range of social threat tasks in SAD. Cognitive models have consistently recognised pre-event and post-event rumination as maintaining factors in Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). This study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of a state-based measure of pre-event and post-event rumination in SAD: The Socially Anxious Rumination Questionnaire (SARQ), which was formerly known as the Thoughts Questionnaire. In particular, we examined the factor structure, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct validity, sensitivity to treatment response, clinical cut-off scores (relative to non-clinical participants), and associated test performance indicators of the SARQ. The sample comprised 505 adults with a principal diagnosis of SAD and 130 non-clinical controls. Pre-event and post-event rumination were assessed in relation to a three-minute impromptu speech. Results indicated single factors for the SARQ: Pre-event and SARQ: Post-event scales, along with excellent internal consistency, good test-retest reliability, sound sensitivity to cognitive-behavioural treatment response, and a clear ability to discriminate between individuals with a principal diagnosis of SAD and non-clinical controls. The findings justify the SARQ's use as a robust and reliable measure of state rumination for individuals with SAD that can be used both before and after encountering a social threat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social anxiety and depressive symptoms increase markedly during adolescence. Most research examining the emergence of these symptoms has used a variable-centered approach providing little information about how these symptoms group together in individuals over time. A person-centered approach utilizing latent profile and latent transitional analyses was applied to a large adolescent sample (N = 2742, M age =13.65; SD =0.63; 47.9% girls). Subgroups differing in their expressions of social anxiety and depressive symptoms at each of four annual time points were identified and then change in membership of these groups was evaluated. Four subgroups were identified: 1. Low Distress, 2. Socially Anxious, 3. Dysphoric, and 4. Comorbid. The low distress group was the largest and most stable, followed by the socially anxious group, who most commonly transitioned into the comorbid group. In contrast, the dysphoric group were most likely to remit and move to the low distress group. The comorbid group was the smallest and least stable, although once in this group, three quarters of adolescents remained in this group over time. Early intervention is particularly imperative for socially anxious adolescents with or without comorbid depressive symptoms as they are the least likely to improve across the adolescent years. • Four subgroups with varying profiles of social anxiety and depressive symptoms were identified. • For the comorbid group, social anxiety was more likely to precede depression than vice versa. • Transitions between subgroups were driven more by changes in depression than social anxiety. • Those high in social anxiety were the least likely to experience a remission in symptoms over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]