| Volume 5, Issue 3, 244-258, 2014 |
| | | | | Abstract E-mail Abstract Article Purchase as PDF | | | Return to Issue List | | Investigating Functional Properties of Depressive Rumination: Insight and Avoidance | | |
Authors | | | Rosemary Kingston - Mood Disorders Centre, Psychology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, UK | | | Edward Watkins - Mood Disorders Centre, Psychology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, UK | | | Susan Nolen-Hoeksema - Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT | | |
| | | Volume 5, Issue 3, 2014, Pages 244-258 | | | DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5127/jep.038013 | | |
| | | Abstract | | | It remains unresolved why people keep ruminating even though it confers vulnerability to depression. It has been
hypothesised that rumination is reinforced by (i) increasing insight and understanding into difficulties and/or (ii)
providing a rationale for avoiding taking action, thereby avoiding aversive situations. To test this, we used an
experimental analogue to rumination about threat: Participants were confronted with being assertive about a
difficult interpersonal issue, and randomly allocated to repetitively think about this in an abstract style characteristic
of depressive rumination ("Why?") or a concrete style inconsistent with depressive rumination ("How?"). Relative to
abstract rumination, concrete thinking significantly enhanced sense of confidence, control, and assertiveness self-
efficacy, but not insight and understanding. In contrast, rumination increased justification for avoidance relative to
concrete thinking. These findings suggest that rumination does not increase insight relative to other problem-
focused thinking, but it may be reinforced by providing evidence that supports inactivity and avoidance. | | |
| | | Table of Contents | | | Introduction
Method
Design
Participants
Tasks
Exposure to threatening situation: Confrontation with assertiveness task.
Manipulation of processing mode: Abstract rumination / concrete thinking interview.
Measures
Response Styles Questionnaire - Ruminative Response Scale (RSQ-RRS, Nolen-Hoeksema & Morrow,1991).
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9, Kroenke, Spitzer, & Williams, 2001).
Sense of understanding and insight.
Sense of confidence and control.
Assertiveness self-efficacy.
State anxiety.
Justification for avoidance.
Interview coding of abstract / concreteness.
Importance of understanding and insight.
Ratings of the assertiveness issue.
Procedure
Results
Preliminary Analyses
Interview Manipulation Check
Main Analyses
Post-threat analyses.
Post-manipulation analyses.
Relationship with trait rumination.
Relationship with current depression symptoms.
Discussion
Acknowledgements
References | | |
| | | Correspondence to | | | Rosemary Kingston, Psychology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of
Exeter, Washington Singer Building, Perry Road, Exeter, EX4 4QG, UK. | | |
| | Keywords | | | Rumination; Depression; Cognitive Processes, Metacognitive Beliefs; Avoidance | | |
| | | Dates | | | Received 23 Aug 2013; Revised 11 Mar 2014; Accepted 12 Mar 2014; In Press 21 Nov 2014 | | |
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