The effects of rumination, distraction, and gratitude on positive and negative affect

In a series of classic quasi-experiments, Lyubomirsky, Nolen-Hoeksema, and colleagues demonstrated the negative effects of rumination (vs. distraction) among people with depression. Across five studies, we attempted to replicate the former studies, as well as extend them by adding a third condition, gratitude, and the measurement of positive affect. We measured baseline depression severity and then randomly assigned people to a rumination, distraction, or gratitude condition. Pre- and post-manipulation, we measured depressed mood and positive and negative affect. We also explored whether manipulation-induced changes in affect related to construal of events, problem-solving, and thoughts about future behaviors (i.e., thought-action repertoires). As expected, both the distraction and gratitude conditions dampened negative affect (compared to the rumination condition), and the negative effects of the rumination condition were stronger among people relatively higher in baseline depression (compared to the distraction condition). Also as expected, the gratitude condition promoted positive affect when compared to the rumination and distraction conditions, an effect that was unmoderated by baseline depression. Furthermore, gratitude-induced changes in positive affect uniquely related to more positive construal of events, as well as higher positivity and lower negativity in thought-action repertoires. In sum, we found strong evidence that positive affect-above and beyond negative affect-facilitates healthy thought patterns, and we provide support for the idea that increasing positive affect should be a direct goal of treatments for depression, in addition to reducing negative affect. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).