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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression

Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression

Published on: May 19, 2015

Expressive writing buffers against maladaptive rumination.

Denise M Sloan¹, Brian P Marx, Eva M Epstein

¹National Center for PTSD, Behavioral Science Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA. denise.sloan@va.gov

Emotion (Washington, D.C.)

|April 16, 2008

Summary

Expressive writing reduced depression symptoms for college students with a brooding ruminative style. This specific style of rumination, but not reflective pondering, benefited from expressive writing interventions for mental health.

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Published on: January 5, 2018

Area of Science:

Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Mental Health

Background:

Ruminative style is a potential moderator of psychological interventions.
Understanding how different ruminative styles interact with interventions is crucial for personalized mental health care.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate if ruminative style moderates the effectiveness of expressive writing on depression symptoms.
To differentiate the impact of brooding versus reflective pondering on expressive writing outcomes.

Main Methods:

Sixty-nine college students were assessed for ruminative style and depression.
Participants were randomized into expressive writing or control writing groups.
Depression symptoms were tracked at 2, 4, and 6 months post-intervention.

Main Results:

A brooding ruminative style significantly moderated the effects of expressive writing.
Individuals with higher brooding scores in the expressive writing group showed reduced depression symptoms.
Reflective pondering did not show a moderating effect on expressive writing's impact on depression.

Conclusions:

Expressive writing may be an effective intervention for reducing depression in individuals with a brooding ruminative tendency.
Tailoring interventions based on ruminative style, specifically targeting brooding, could enhance mental health outcomes.
Further research should explore the mechanisms behind brooding's interaction with expressive writing.