Ruminative Thinking Research Articles

Mediating effects of peace of mind and rumination on the relationship between gratitude and depression among Chinese university students

Although previous researchers have investigated the relationship between gratitude and depression, few studies have explored the possible mediating variables behind this association. This research aimed to examine whether peace of mind and rumination would have a mediating effect on the relationship between gratitude and depression. A sample of five hundred and one Chinese university students completed measures of gratitude, depression, peace of mind and rumination. Correlation analysis showed that gratitude, depression, peace of mind, and rumination were interrelated. Structural equation modeling showed that peace of mind and rumination fully-mediated the relationship between gratitude and depression for this sample. Multi-group analysis found that the mediational model did not differ by gender. Results of present study suggested that gratitude may not only have a negative influence on depression, but may also counteract the symptoms of depression by enhancing a state of peace of mind and reducing ruminative thinking.

The Moderating Effects of Rumination Facets on the Relationship Between Mindfulness and Distress Reduction

Mindfulness-based interventions have many applications, including as a productive alternative to repetitive thoughts. Rumination includes two factors: brooding (moody, maladaptive thinking) and reflection (adaptive attempt to overcome problems). Literature suggests mindfulness interventions reduce ruminative thoughts, but technique effectiveness requires examination. Our study assessed whether mindfulness techniques differ with respect to distress reduction in the context of brooding versus reflective styles. Students (N = 228) completed questionnaires, negative mood manipulation, and a one-session mindfulness training that required either focused attention or open monitoring. Induced distress was reduced in both conditions, but brooding moderated the relationship between condition and distress reduction. Reflection was not a moderator. The findings support the idea that even a modest dose of mindfulness exercise aids in reducing induced negative emotions. Focused mindfulness may be more beneficial for reducing distress in individuals who report high levels of brooding, whereas either technique may reduce distress in individuals who reflect.

Examining latent classes of smartphone users: Relations with psychopathology and problematic smartphone use

Little is known about how people use their smartphones, and whether usage patterns are related to psychopathology and problematic smartphone use. We sampled 296 college students, and administered self-report scales to assess frequency of using various smartphone features, and problematic smartphone use. We also assessed psychopathology constructs (ruminative thinking and emotion regulation deficits), and demographics (age and gender) as potential covariates of smartphone use patterns. Using latent class analysis, we identified two distinct classes of smartphone feature use, with one class representing especially heavy use (particularly that of social networking, audio and visual entertainment, and image- and video-taking), and the other class involving light use (particularly that of social networking, audio entertainment and image- and video-taking). Higher levels of rumination, and higher levels of cognitive reappraisal as an emotion regulation strategy, were related to the heavy use class. The heavy use class scored higher on all problematic smartphone use outcome variables. Results aid in understanding the nature and relation of smartphone usage patterns to psychopathology and problematic smartphone usage.

Mindfulness Meditation Targets Transdiagnostic Symptoms Implicated in Stress-Related Disorders: Understanding Relationships between Changes in Mindfulness, Sleep Quality, and Physical Symptoms.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is an 8-week meditation program known to improve anxiety, depression, and psychological well-being. Other health-related effects, such as sleep quality, are less well established, as are the psychological processes associated with therapeutic change. This prospective, observational study (n = 213) aimed to determine whether perseverative cognition, indicated by rumination and intrusive thoughts, and emotion regulation, measured by avoidance, thought suppression, emotion suppression, and cognitive reappraisal, partly accounted for the hypothesized relationship between changes in mindfulness and two health-related outcomes: sleep quality and stress-related physical symptoms. As expected, increased mindfulness following the MBSR program was directly correlated with decreased sleep disturbance (r = −0.21, p = 0.004) and decreased stress-related physical symptoms (r = −0.38, p < 0.001). Partial correlations revealed that pre-post changes in rumination, unwanted intrusive thoughts, thought suppression, experiential avoidance, emotion suppression, and cognitive reappraisal each uniquely accounted for up to 32% of the correlation between the change in mindfulness and change in sleep disturbance and up to 30% of the correlation between the change in mindfulness and change in stress-related physical symptoms. Results suggest that the stress-reducing effects of MBSR are due, in part, to improvements in perseverative cognition and emotion regulation, two “transdiagnostic” mental processes that cut across stress-related disorders.

The effect of distraction with recalling objects of rumination on mood, and the evaluation of ruminative thoughts

The effect of distraction with recalling objects of rumination on mood, and the evaluation of ruminative thoughts

The relationship between forgivingness, mental health and psychotherapy

Forgivingness occupies a prominent place in religions as well as in various philosophical systems of ethics and can be defined as the free, personal distancing from feelings of rage and resentment toward a person or persons having committed an injustice. The main psychological function of forgiveness consists in allowing for the replacement of negative emotions by positive ones, such as generosity, goodness, compassion, empathy, or even love toward the offender. It must be emphasized that forgiveness is independent from reconciliation, and it is not simply a form of tolerance, justification, oblivion, underestimation, denial or amnesty. Intrapsychic processes are sufficient and necessary for the genesis of forgiveness, although it is likely that these are also influenced by complex interpersonal events. Current research identifies various dimensions of forgiveness, which must be distinguished from each other, as they differ both on the level of causes, as well as on that of effects. The observation that forgiveness has a positive effect on mental health is not new, it is, however, only recently that comprehensive theories have been constructed and scientific research has been developed regarding the relationship between forgiveness and psychopathology. Over the recent years, there has been an increasing number of studies affirming the beneficial effects of forgiveness on a broad spectrum of aspects of mental health and well-being, despite the lack of complete clarification of underlying mechanisms. The positive connection between forgiveness and mental health could be mediated through direct or indirect mechanisms interacting not only on a biological level, but also in the psychological and social realm of human existence. One direct way could be the avoidance of ruminative thoughts reinforcing and maintaining negative emotions such as resentment, hatred, anger, anxiety and fear. Moreover, forgiveness cultivates empathy and promotes altruistic forms of behavior, facilitating the preservation of relationships and protecting from prolonged distress. An indirect mechanism could involve various forms of health behavior, interpersonal functionality and social supportive networks, factors universally accepted as contributing to mental health. Owing to the positive influence of forgiveness on health issues, various modes of intervention have been proposed and implemented using forgiveness either independently or from within the conceptual framework of specific psychotherapeutic methods. The aim of these interventions is to express negative emotions, to liberate the subject from the vicious circle of rumination, and to overcome resentment in a positive way. Thus, there is an obvious need to further promote forgivingness as a subject of psychological and psychiatric research, and to foreground findings and possible clinical psychotherapeutic applications.

Cognitive factors and post‐partum depression: What is the influence of general personality traits, rumination, maternal self‐esteem, and alexithymia?

The objective was to assess the impact of cognitive factors on post-partum depression (PPD) symptoms. Because most of the literature data concern the immediate post-partum period or the first year post-partum, we notably sought to assess the longer term impact of cognitive factors on the symptoms of PPD. Two studies were performed. In a pilot study, 1-month post-partum, 63 women filled out a sociodemographic information sheet and completed the abbreviated, revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, the Ruminative Responses Scale, the Maternal Self-Report Inventory, and the Edinburgh Post-Natal Depression Scale. In the main study, 124 women additionally completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. The main study population was divided into 2 subgroups: women in the first year post-partum (n = 74) and those in the second year post-partum (n = 50). In the pilot study performed 1-month post-partum, brooding rumination and low self-esteem were significant predictors of the PPD symptom intensity. Neuroticism, brooding rumination, and low maternal self-esteem were also significant predictors of the PPD symptoms reported in the first year post-partum. Lastly, ruminative thoughts and alexithymia were significant predictors of the PPD symptoms reported in the second year post-partum. Our results suggest that alexithymia may be an important predictor of the incidence of this condition. The observation of differences in the PPD models as a function of the post-partum period may open up opportunities for developing novel PPD prevention/treatment programs.

What do repetitive thinking styles tell about hyperemesis gravidarum?

ABSTRACTOBJECTIVES: Although there are studies investigating the relationship between anxiety disorders, depression, and hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), none have sufficiently clarified the link between underlying psychological processes and HG. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between rumination, worry, and HG and their possible triggering effects on HG.METHODS: The study was designed as a prospective, self-reported, cohort research and the study sample consists of 350 pregnant women. Socio-demographic Form, Ruminative Thinking Style Questionnaire (RTSQ), Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-2), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were administered to the participants at the first 6 weeks of their pregnancies (time 1). Second consultation was made to detect women with HG diagnosis between the 6 and 18 weeks’ gestation (time 2). Forty participants diagnosed with HG and 40 randomly chosen participants who had healthy pregnancy process at the end of the 18th gestational week were compared by using ...

Why is your boss making you sick? A longitudinal investigation modeling time‐lagged relations between abusive supervision and employee physical health

SummaryAlthough an abundance of cross‐sectional data have linked abusive supervision with employees' experience of health‐related problems, further research accounting for the temporal dynamics of these variables is needed to establish causality. Furthermore, the process by which abusive supervision relates to subordinate health problems requires greater clarification. In a 1‐year longitudinal cross‐lagged investigation, we sought to test the time‐lagged relationship between abusive supervision and employee physical health; additionally, we test rumination as a cognitive process that mediates this time‐lagged relationship while modeling other relevant social and motivational mediators. Our results indicate that subordinate ruminative thinking about their experiences of abusive supervision mediates the time‐lagged association between abusive supervision and physical health problems. These findings suggest that reducing ruminative thinking may limit the long‐term impact of abusive supervision on employees' physical health.

Heart rate variability mediates the link between rumination and depressive symptoms: A longitudinal study

Ruminative thinking about negative feelings has been prospectively associated with increases in depressive symptoms and heightened risk for new onsets of major depression. One putative pathophysiological mechanism underlying this link might be represented by autonomic nervous system dysfunction. The objective of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the interplay between rumination, autonomic function (as revealed by heart rate variability (HRV) analysis), and depressive symptoms in healthy young subjects, over a three-year period. Rumination and depressive symptoms were evaluated in twenty-two women and twenty men at three assessment points (Time 0, 1 and 2) by the score on the Ruminative Response Scale, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, respectively. Vagally-mediated HRV was assessed in a laboratory session (Time 0) and in two ambulatory sessions at Time 1 and Time 2 (~13 and 34months after Time 0, respectively). Ruminative thinking was found to be (i) a stable trait characteristic, (ii) more prevalent in women than men, and (iii) positively correlated with depressive symptoms. Moreover, resting HRV was negatively correlated with both rumination and depressive symptoms. Finally, HRV at Time 1 mediated the relationship between rumination at Time 0 and depressive symptoms at Time 2. We conclude that autonomic dysfunction, specifically low vagal tone, may be prospectively implicated in the generation of depressive symptoms in a non-clinical setting.

The four faces of rumination to stressful events: A psychometric analysis.

To increase the knowledge of rumination and its associations with stressful events, we explored the relationships between 4 types of rumination (brooding, reflection, intrusive, and deliberate rumination) in a sample of 750 adult participants who experienced a highly stressful event. We also explored the predictive value of the different types of rumination on posttraumatic stress symptoms and posttraumatic growth 6 months after the highly stressful event occurred. Participants completed the Ruminative Response Scale and the Event-Related Rumination Inventory. Brooding and reflection rumination were obtained from the Ruminative Response Scale, whereas deliberate and intrusive rumination were obtained from the Event-Related Rumination Inventory. Confirmatory factorial analyses were conducted using the 4 types of rumination to test 3 different models: (a) 4-factor model (brooding, reflection, intrusive, and deliberate rumination), (b) 2-factor model: adaptive rumination (reflection and deliberate) and maladaptive rumination (brooding and intrusive), and (c) 2-factor model: depressive rumination (brooding and reflection) and posttraumatic rumination (intrusive and deliberate). It was observed that the 4-factor model showed the best fit to the data. Moreover, 6 months later it was observed that the most significant predictor of posttraumatic symptoms was intrusive rumination, whereas deliberate rumination was the most significant predictor of posttraumatic growth. Results indicate that the 4 types of rumination are differentiated constructs. Ruminative thoughts experienced after a stressful event predicted posttraumatic consequences 6 months later. Implications of these findings are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record

The effect of transcranial direct current stimulation of the prefrontal cortex on implicit self-esteem is mediated by rumination after criticism

It has been proposed that a crucial link between cognitive (i.e., self-schemas) and biological vulnerability is prefrontal control. This is because decreased control leads to impaired ability to inhibit ruminative thinking after the activation of negative self-schemas. However, current evidence is mainly correlational. In the current experimental study we tested whether the effect of neurostimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on self-esteem is mediated by momentary ruminative self-referential thinking (MRST) after the induction of negative self-schemas by criticism. We used a single, sham-controlled crossover session of anodal transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) applied to the left DLPFC (cathode over the right supraorbital region) in healthy female individuals. After receiving tDCS/sham stimulation, we measured MRST and exposed the participants to critical audio scripts, followed by another MRST measurement. Subsequently, all participants completed two Implicit Relational Assessment Procedures to implicitly measure actual and ideal self-esteem. Our behavioral data indicated a significant decrease in MRST after real but not sham tDCS. Moreover, although there was no immediate effect of tDCS on implicit self-esteem, an indirect effect was found through double mediation, with the difference in MRST from baseline to after stimulation and from baseline to after criticism as our two mediators. The larger the decrease of criticism induced MRST after real tDCS, the higher the level of actual self-esteem. Our results show that tDCS can influence cognitive processes such as rumination, and subsequently self-esteem, but only after the activation of negative self-schemas. Rumination and negative self-esteem characterize different forms of psychopathology, and these data expand our knowledge of the role of the prefrontal cortex in controlling these self-referential processes, and the mechanisms of action of tDCS.

Grief rumination mediates the association between self-compassion and psychopathology in relatives of missing persons

ABSTRACTBackground: The disappearance of a loved one is a unique type of loss, also termed ‘ambiguous loss’, which may heighten the risk for developing prolonged grief (PG), depression, and posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms. Little is known about protective and risk factors for psychopathology among relatives of missing persons. A potential protective factor is self-compassion, referring to openness toward and acceptance of one’s own pain, failures, and inadequacies. One could reason that self-compassion is associated with lower levels of emotional distress following ambiguous loss, because it might serve as a buffer for getting entangled in ruminative thinking about the causes and consequences of the disappearance (‘grief rumination’).Objective: In a sample of relatives of missing persons we aimed to examine (1) the prediction that greater self-compassion is related to lower symptom-levels of PG, depression, and PTS and (2) to what extent these associations are mediated by grief rumination.Method: Dutch and Belgian relatives of long-term missing persons (N = 137) completed self-report measures tapping self-compassion, grief rumination, PG, depression, and PTS. Mediation analyses were conducted.Results: Self-compassion was significantly, negatively, and moderately associated with PG, depression, and PTS levels. Grief rumination significantly mediated the associations of higher levels of self-compassion with lower levels of PG (a*b = −0.11), depression (a*b = −0.07), and PTS (a*b = −0.11). Specifically, 50%, 32%, and 32% of the effect of self-compassion on PG, depression, and PTS levels, respectively, was accounted for by grief rumination.Conclusions: Findings suggest that people with more self-compassion experience less severe psychopathology, in part because these people are less strongly inclined to engage in ruminative thinking related to the disappearance. Strengthening a self-compassionate attitude using, for instance, mindfulness-based interventions may therefore be a useful intervention to reduce emotional distress associated with the disappearance of a loved one.

Pain and Alcohol Use among Latinos in Primary Care: Examining Rumination as an Explanatory Factor

ABSTRACTBackground: Alcohol is a widely abused substance among Latinos. Yet, little is known regarding factors underlying hazardous drinking in this population. Growing work has linked pain to hazardous drinking, although highly limited work has focused on Latinos. Objectives: The aim of the current study was to test rumination as an underlying mechanism explaining relations between pain severity and alcohol use among Latinos. Methods: Data from 252 low-income Latino adults (Mage = 38.7 years, SD = 10.8; 86.1% female) attending a community-based primary health care clinic were available. Participants completed measures of pain, rumination, and alcohol use. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the indirect effect of pain severity via rumination on alcohol use. Results: The model displayed good fit to the data. There was a statistically significant indirect effect of pain severity via rumination on alcohol use. Conclusions/Importance: The current findings suggest that rumination may underlie associations of pain and alcohol use among Latinos. Future work in primary care medical settings may benefit from targeting ruminative thinking among Latinos who are experiencing pain to address hazardous drinking.

Cognitive Response Styles and the Construction of Personal Narratives: Implications for Psychopathology in Young Adults

We investigated the concurrent relationships among life story variables (autobiographical reasoning), cognitive variables (negative explanatory style, cognitive reappraisal strategies, and rumination), and psychopathology (symptoms of depression and anxiety). Narratives of life story high, low, and turning points were collected from 164 young adults. Findings for negative self-event connections are reported here. Young adults who made some, as opposed to no, negative self-event connections reported greater symptoms of depression and anxiety and were more likely to report higher levels of ruminative thinking and less likely to use adaptive cognitive reappraisal strategies. Whether participants drew negative self-event connections predicted depression over and above the variance explained by negative explanatory style and cognitive reappraisal strategies and interacted with explanatory style to predict depression. In contrast, negative self-event connections did not incrementally predict anxiety over and above the cognitive variables. Results are discussed in terms of our current understanding of the factors that predict psychological distress.

Debate on "Defining melancholia: A core mood disorder".

Objectives Recently, a debate article by Parker et al. was published regarding the biological type of depression, melancholia, in which they discussed its clinical presentation, particularly that involving psychomotor disturbances. However, there is one feature of melancholia that is frequently forgotten, to which this article aims to devote special attention: ruminative thoughts of guilt. Methods A critical review of the literature. Results The symptom of ruminative thoughts of guilt has been described historically in melancholia, and some recent data, such as neurobiological abnormalities and poor prognosis, support it as an important feature of depression. Conclusions Rumination, along with psychomotor retardation, should also be considered a specific feature of melancholia.

The interaction between 5-HTTLPR genotype and ruminative thinking on BMI.

Negative affect or stress is often found to increase energy intake for high palatable energy-rich foods and hence weight gain. Reduced brain serotonin (5-HT) function is known to increase stress vulnerability and the risk for eating-related disturbances. A short (S) allele polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) is associated with a less efficient functioning brain serotonin system and therefore higher stress vulnerability. It has been suggested that this genotype may be directly linked to an increased risk for weight gain and/or obesity. However, a high amount of variability has been apparent in replicating such a direct gene on weight gain relationship. A most recent suggestion is that this gene by weight relationship might be moderated by an additional (cognitive) vulnerability factor involving repetitive negative thinking (rumination). Our objective was to investigate whether the S-allele of 5-HTTLPR contributes to weight gain particularly in high cognitive ruminating individuals. A total of 827 healthy young male and female college students (aged 21·3 (sd 3·0) years; BMI 16-41·7 kg/m2) were genotyped for the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and assessed for rumination (Event Related Ruminative Index) and body weight. In line with the hypothesis, a hierarchical regression model showed that higher BMI scores were observed in specifically high ruminating S'-carriers (P=0·031, f²=0·022). These results suggest that cognitive rumination may be a critical moderator of the association between 5-HTTLPR and body mass.

Increased left prefrontal brain perfusion after MRI compatible tDCS attenuates momentary ruminative self-referential thoughts

BackgroundTranscranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive electrical stimulation technique, assumed to influence cognition and emotional processing. Objective: However, it is unclear how tDCS influences spontaneous cognitive processes such as momentary self-referential thoughts on the neuronal level. MethodsForty healthy female volunteers participated in a single session sham-controlled crossover tDCS study while being in the MRI scanner. We measured brain perfusion (arterial spin labeling) just before and just after tDCS. Before and after the stimulation procedure, participants were scored on mood (visual analogue scales) and on the Momentary Ruminative Self-focus Inventory (MRSI). We performed a 1.5 mA, 20-min, anodal left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, cathodal right supraorbital stimulation. ResultsOne sham-controlled tDCS session did not result in subjective mood changes. However, as compared to before, MRSI scores significantly decreased only after active tDCS. Regression analysis revealed that this reduction in momentary ruminative self-referential thoughts was related to tDCS-related increases in left prefrontal cortical perfusion. tDCS decreased momentary self-referential thoughts, which was associated with increasing perfusion in the left prefrontal cortex. ConclusionOur findings are in line with the hypothesis that tDCS of the DLPFC attenuates ruminative processes.

Rumination is associated with diminished performance monitoring.

Rumination is a construct that cuts across a variety of disorders, including anxiety and depression. It has been associated with deficits in cognitive control thought to confer risk for psychopathology. One aspect of cognitive control that is especially relevant to the content of ruminative thoughts is error processing. We examined the relation of rumination and 2 electrophysiological indices of error processing, error-related negativity (ERN), an early index of error detection, and error positivity (Pe), a later index of error awareness. Consistent with prior work, ERN was negatively correlated with anxiety (i.e., more anxious individuals were characterized by larger ERNs). After controlling for anxiety, rumination-but not worry-predicted ERN attenuation. No significant relation between rumination and Pe emerged. Findings suggest that rumination may diminish resources early in the processes of performance monitoring and the recruitment of cognitive control. (PsycINFO Database Record

Depressive symptoms, ruminative thinking, drinking motives, and alcohol outcomes: A multiple mediation model among college students in three countries

BackgroundRecent research suggests that ruminative thinking (specifically problem-focused thoughts) may explain why individuals engage in drinking to cope (DTC) when dealing with depressive symptoms; which in turn leads to increased negative alcohol-related consequences. Cross-cultural studies addressing these phenomena are scarce. ObjectivesThe present study cross-culturally tested whether four rumination facets (problem-focused thoughts, counterfactual thinking, repetitive thoughts, and anticipatory thoughts) uniquely mediate the relationships between depressive symptoms and drinking motives/alcohol outcomes in a multicultural sample of college student drinkers (n=1429) from Spain, Argentina, and the U.S. MethodStructural equation modeling was conducted to test the models, controlling for sex. Further, we conducted invariance testing to determine whether our models were culturally-specific or culturally-universal. ResultsWithin both proposed models, no rumination facet uniquely mediated the relationship between depressive symptoms and drinking motives. However, an exploratory model with a second-order latent factor of ruminative thinking did significantly mediate these associations (exception was conformity motives). Further, there were two significant double-mediated associations that suggested that increased depressive symptoms is associated with increased ruminative thinking, which is associated with higher DTC motives, which in turn is associated with higher alcohol consumption and negative alcohol-related consequences. All models were found to be invariant across countries and sex, suggesting that these associations may be relatively universal. ConclusionsRumination is relevant to understand the increased vulnerability of college drinkers to exhibit greater alcohol consumption and negative consequences via DTC motives when dealing with depressive symptoms.