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Is Rumination a Risk and a Protective Factor?
Kaitlin A Harding1, Amy Mezulis1
1Seattle Pacific University , Seattle , WA, USA.
Europe'S Journal of Psychology
|March 28, 2017
Summary
High trait positive affect (PA) protects against depression by influencing rumination. While less brooding mediated this protective effect, positive rumination did not, suggesting rumination can be both a risk and protective factor.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- High trait positive affect (PA) is linked to reduced depressive symptoms, partly via cognitive responses like rumination.
- The distinct roles of rumination on positive (positive rumination) versus negative emotions (brooding) in this protective mechanism remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether positive rumination and brooding represent a shared affect amplification process.
- To examine if trait PA distinctly predicts positive rumination and brooding.
- To determine if positive rumination and brooding mediate the relationship between trait PA and depressive symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study with 321 adults.
- Confirmatory factor analysis to model the relationship between brooding and positive rumination.
- Structural equation modeling to test mediation effects, controlling for baseline depressive symptoms and trait negative affect (NA).
Main Results:
- Brooding and positive rumination were confirmed as distinct but related constructs, reflecting a common affect amplification process.
- Trait PA distinctly predicted both positive rumination and brooding.
- Reduced brooding, not increased positive rumination, significantly mediated the protective effect of trait PA against depressive symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Rumination can act as both a risk and protective factor in the context of depressive symptoms.
- Individuals with high PA may benefit from reducing brooding and potentially redirecting cognitive processes towards positive content to enhance resilience.
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