Abstract
This study examined the relationship between trait rumination and the effectiveness of problem solving strategies as assessed by the Means-Ends Problem-Solving Test (MEPS) in a nonclinical population. The present study extended previous studies in terms of using two instructions in the MEPS: the second-person, actual strategy instructions, which has been utilized in previous studies on rumination, and the third-person, ideal-strategy instructions, which is considered more suitable for assessing the effectiveness of problem solving strategies. We also replicated the association between rumination and each dimension of the Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised Short Version (SPSI-R:S). Japanese undergraduate students (N = 223) completed the Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition, Ruminative Responses Scale (RRS), MEPS, and SPSI-R:S. One half of the sample completed the MEPS with the second-person, actual strategy instructions. The other participants completed the MEPS with the third-person, ideal-strategy instructions. The results showed that neither total RRS score, nor its subscale scores were significantly correlated with MEPS scores under either of the two instructions. These findings taken together with previous findings indicate that in nonclinical populations, trait rumination is not related to the effectiveness of problem solving strategies, but that state rumination while responding to the MEPS deteriorates the quality of strategies. The correlations between RRS and SPSI-R:S scores indicated that trait rumination in general, and its brooding subcomponent in particular are parts of cognitive and behavioral responses that attempt to avoid negative environmental and negative private events. Results also showed that reflection is a part of active problem solving.
Highlights
Depressive rumination is defined as ‘‘behaviors and thoughts that focus one’s attention on one’s depressive symptoms and on the implications of these symptoms’’ (Nolen-Hoeksema 1991, p. 569)
Each Means-Ends ProblemSolving Test (MEPS) score decreased in dysphoric and depressed participants that were induced to ruminate compared to participants that were induced to distract (Lyubomirsky and Nolen-Hoeksema 1995; Lyubomirsky et al 1999; Donaldson and Lam 2004). These findings indicate that in nonclinical populations, trait rumination is not related to the quality of responses to the MEPS, whereas state rumination while responding to the MEPS deteriorates the quality of solutions
The present findings, along with previous studies that have induced rumination (Lyubomirsky and Nolen-Hoeksema 1995; Lyubomirsky et al 1999) indicate that in nonclinical populations, trait rumination is not related to the quality of responses to the MEPS, whereas state rumination while responding to the MEPS deteriorates the quality of solutions for each scenario
Summary
Depressive rumination is defined as ‘‘behaviors and thoughts that focus one’s attention on one’s depressive symptoms and on the implications of these symptoms’’ (Nolen-Hoeksema 1991, p. 569). Several longitudinal studies demonstrated that brooding was associated with more depression at 6 months to 1 year later, whereas reflection was associated with less depression or was not associated (Treynor et al 2003; Pearson et al 2010; Schoofs et al 2010; except for Hasegawa et al 2015a). These findings suggest that brooding may represent a maladaptive aspect of rumination, whereas reflection may be adaptive or less maladaptive
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