Response inhibition deficits are positively associated with trait rumination, but attentional inhibition deficits are not: aggressive behaviors and interpersonal stressors as mediators

Akira Hasegawa,Yuko Yamashita,Tetsuya Yamamoto,Noboru Matsumoto,Keisuke Tanaka,Jun Kawaguchi

doi:10.1007/s00426-021-01537-y

Abstract

Previous findings on relationships between inhibition that is a core executive function, and trait rumination have been inconsistent. This inconsistency could be overcome by investigating the association between rumination and the two subcomponents of inhibition: response inhibition and attentional inhibition. This study examined whether and how response inhibition and attentional inhibition were related to rumination as well as worry. University students in Japan (N = 213) conducted the Go/No-Go Task and the Modified Stroop Task. They also completed self-report measures of depression, trait rumination, trait worry, stressors, and aggressive behaviors. Results indicated that response inhibition deficits were positively associated with trait rumination, and this association was mediated by increases in aggressive behaviors and interpersonal stressors. The associations between these variables remained significant even after controlling for depression level. There were no significant direct or indirect associations between attentional inhibition deficits and rumination. These results suggest that response inhibition deficits, among the subcomponents of inhibition, have an indirect positive association with rumination through interpersonal processes. Results also showed nonsignificant differences between rumination and worry in the magnitude of correlation coefficients with the two subcomponents of inhibition. Therefore, it remains unclear whether the positive association with response inhibition is unique to rumination.

Highlights

Rumination is repetitive and passive thinking about one’s depressive symptoms and possible causes and consequences of these symptoms (Nolen-Hoeksema, 1991; Watkins & Roberts, 2020)
We examined whether aggressive behaviors mediated the association between response inhibition and interpersonal stressors because previous studies have shown that aggressive behaviors were one behavioral correlate of impaired response inhibition (Qiao et al, 2016; Raaijmakers et al, 2008)
This study indicated that response inhibition deficits had an indirect positive association with rumination via increases in aggressive behaviors and negative interpersonal events

Summary

Introduction

Rumination is repetitive and passive thinking about one’s depressive symptoms and possible causes and consequences of these symptoms (Nolen-Hoeksema, 1991; Watkins & Roberts, 2020). Previous studies suggested that rumination is a core vulnerability to depression. Previous studies have indicated that rumination leads to deleterious consequences such as increases in associated negative thinking, ineffective social problem solving, interference with active instrumental behaviors, and reduced sensitivity to changing contingencies and contexts (for reviews, Watkins & Roberts, 2020). During the past 2 decades, researchers have examined the possible role of executive function deficits in increasing rumination. Previous metaanalyses have suggested that deficits in executive functions were positively associated with trait rumination (Yang et al, 2017; Zetsche et al, 2018). The performance in tasks assessing inhibition has shown inconsistent associations with trait rumination, as described below

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Conclusion