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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 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

Ruminative self-focus, negative life events, and negative affect.

Nicholas J Moberly¹, Edward R Watkins

¹Mood Disorders Centre, School of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, UK. n.j.moberly@ex.ac.uk

Behaviour Research and Therapy

|August 8, 2008

Summary

Ruminative thinking, or focusing on negative thoughts, worsens psychological distress after stressful events. This study shows that momentary rumination partially explains why negative events increase negative feelings.

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Area of Science:

Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Background:

Ruminative thinking is a known exacerbator of psychological distress following stressful life events.
Understanding the mechanisms linking stressors to distress is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of momentary ruminative self-focus in mediating the relationship between negative life events and subsequent negative affect.
To examine how depressive symptoms and trait rumination influence reactivity to negative events.

Main Methods:

An experience-sampling methodology was employed over one week.
Participants recorded negative life events, ruminative self-focus, and negative affect eight times daily.
Statistical analyses examined prospective associations and mediation effects.

Main Results:

Negative events were associated with increased negative affect, partially mediated by momentary ruminative self-focus.
Depressive symptoms correlated with event frequency but not with heightened reactivity to events.
Trait rumination predicted more severe negative events and increased mood reactivity.

Conclusions:

Momentary engagement in ruminative self-focus is a key factor determining distress levels after everyday stressors.
Dispositional rumination influences how individuals react emotionally to life's challenges, even in non-clinical populations.