Cross-Cultural Influences on the Association Between Rumination and Psychopathology: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Cross-cultural Psychology
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Rumination is a significant transdiagnostic process linked to psychopathology.
• Cultural factors are known to influence cognitive and emotional processing, but their impact on rumination is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and examine cultural differences in the association between rumination and psychopathology.
• To conduct an exploratory meta-analysis on cultural group moderation of the rumination-psychopathology link.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted in May 2024, identifying 24 eligible studies.
• An exploratory meta-analysis was performed to investigate cultural differences in the rumination-psychopathology association.
• Specific culture-specific mechanisms were analyzed, including social support, self-doubt attributions, and happiness levels.

Main Results:

• Cultural differences were observed in the rumination-psychopathology association under specific conditions.
• Japanese participants showed less erosion of social support from rumination compared to German participants.
• Self-doubt attributions mediated rumination-depression links in European Americans but not Asians; happiness moderated this link in European Americans but not Asian Americans.
• Exploratory meta-analysis on Western vs. Asian samples for depression symptoms found no significant cultural moderation.

Conclusions:

• The current body of research is limited, hindering definitive conclusions on culture's role in rumination and psychopathology.
• There is a critical need for research involving diverse cultural groups, clinical samples, and disorder-specific rumination measures.
• Further research is essential for integrating cultural perspectives into rumination theories and developing culturally tailored interventions.