This report examines the affects of different types of thinking on rumination. Because of the relationship between rumination and psychopathology, many researchers have attempted to understand what types of processing end the ruminative cycle. Some researchers have proposed that thinking concretely (i.e. the specific details of events) will end rumination. These same researchers argue that thinking about events from an abstract perspective (general meaning of an event) is detrimental. However, several recent studies have shown that abstract processing under certain conditions can be beneficial. Though both sides of the debate discuss abstract and concrete as existing within a hierarchy, research to date has only treated these levels dichotomously. Adopting a Goal Progress Theory perspective, this report proposed a study that asks participants to traverse through multiple level of the construal hierarchy, and argues for the benefits of combining both abstract and concrete processing. / text

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The primary objective of this thesis was to investigate the broader consequences of rumination. This entailed exploring the emotional and interpersonal outcomes of rumination at both an individual and dyadic level. A secondary objective was to investigate the unique contribution of attachment to rumination, and the contributing influence of context, with rumination in the confines of a romantic relationship specifically explored. It is proposed that insecure attachment may be both associated with an increased engagement in rumination and a greater likelihood of negative consequences as the result of ruminating. It is also proposed that rumination will not only have consequences for the individual, but that it will also have consequences for their romantic partner. Studies 1 and 2 explored the broader consequences of rumination, and the contribution of attachment, for the individual who is ruminating. Both studies involved student samples. Self-report data from Study 1 confirmed rumination was significantly correlated with depressive symptoms, depressive mood and the negative emotions of shame, guilt and anger. Rumination was also significantly correlated with insecure attachment. Together, rumination and insecure attachment were found to have a unique additive effect on the experience of depressive symptoms, shame and guilt. For depressive mood and anger, insecure attachment was found to moderate the effect of rumination. In Study 2 the relationship among rumination, attachment, negative emotion and interpersonal feelings was investigated experimentally. The contribution of context was also explored with individuals asked to either ruminate or distract after thinking about a negative relationship event. Correlational analyses indicated rumination was significantly associated with greater levels of negative emotion and relationship conflict, and lower levels of relationship depth and support. Experimental results confirmed ruminating on a negative relationship event resulted in lower levels of overall mood than distracting. Ruminating on a negative relationship event (as compared to distracting) did not result in lower levels of relationship satisfaction or relationship closeness, or greater negative feelings about the relationship. Neither anxious-ambivalent nor avoidant attachment significantly contributed to the experience of negative emotion or negative interpersonal feelings when ruminating (versus distracting) on a negative or typical relationship event. Studies 3 and 4 explored the broader consequences of rumination for both the individual and their romantic partner. Study 3 involved a student sample, while Study 4 involved a community sample of adults. All couples were in a heterosexual relationship. Structural Equation Modelling confirmed the presence of emotional and interpersonal consequences of rumination for both samples of individuals. In regards to the consequences of rumination for one’s partner, results for the student sample indicated rumination in males was associated with greater levels of negative emotion but also lower levels of conflict in their partner. Rumination in females was associated with greater negative emotion in the relationship and greater levels of conflict for their partner. For the community sample, rumination in males was associated with greater relationship satisfaction for their partner. Study 5 also explored rumination in the context of a romantic relationship. It did this by investigating the emotional and interpersonal consequences of verbally ruminating with a partner (referred to as co-rumination; Rose, 2002). A within-subjects experimental design was utilised where couples were asked to both co-ruminate, and to reflect together on a negative and a positive relationship event. Results indicated co-ruminating on a negative event resulted in greater relationship closeness and perceptions of support. Results also suggested that females felt they were giving more support to their partner while co-ruminating, while males felt they were giving more support while co-reflecting. No significant effect of co-rumination on emotion was noted. Overall, the current thesis has extended the literature by providing evidence that rumination has several broader consequences beyond its established relationship with depression. Specifically, it has been shown here that rumination not only affects an individual’s emotions but that it also influences their interpersonal feelings. A deeper understanding of the complexities of rumination has also been provided with results highlighting the importance of the content of ruminative thought and the internalised nature of rumination. In regards to contributors to rumination, results have increased our understanding of the role of insecure attachment in contributing to the tendency to ruminate and to the relationship between rumination, emotion and interpersonal feelings. Results have also highlighted the importance of context with rumination associated with emotional and interpersonal consequences both for the individual who is ruminating and for their romantic partner. The implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed in depth throughout this thesis.

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Trots internationellt utbredd användning av självskattningsskalor som mäter depressiv ruminering saknas det psykometriskt validerade skalor för att mäta konstruktet i svenskspråkiga sammanhang. Syftet med det föreliggande arbetet var att undersöka validiteten hos självskattningsskalor av ruminativ disposition (Ruminative Responses Scale – Brooding and Reflection) och pågående ruminering (Brief State Rumination Inventory) i svensk översättning. Skalorna besvarades av psykologistudenter (n = 314) tillsammans med mått på depressivitet, ångest, stress samt symtomövergripande psykiska besvär (Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21) och livstillfredställelse (Satisfaction With Life Scale). Båda rumineringsskalorna visade acceptabel intern konsistens men bristfällig överenstämmelse med testade faktormodeller. Efter att problematiska item raderats visade skalorna god överenstämmelse med modellerna och bibehållen acceptabel intern konsistens. Starkare korrelationer med symtomövergripande psykiska besvär jämfört med depression, stress eller ångest indikerade att skalorna mäter en generell maladaptiv typ av ruminering, snarare än en depressionsspecifik form.

Abstract Cognitive theories of emotional disorders predict that individuals suffering from an emotional disorder exhibit increased interference for stimuli that are idiosyncratic to their disorder (Williams, Mathews, & MacLeod, 1996). However, due to inconsistent results, there is debate as to whether attention disrupting effects for negative information occur in depression. Suitability of experimental stimuli employed to elicit attentional biases is a commonly cited limitation that may have contributed to these inconsistencies. The present investigation was designed to examine the influence of rumination on the operation of attentional biases in depression using a digit-parity task. Depressed and never-depressed participants were required to make a speeded judgement about the parity of two digits flanking a to-be-ignored centrally presented word. Depressed individuals displayed longer digit-parity response times for depression-relevant words relative to never-depressed individuals. Furthermore, depressed individuals displayed the longest digit-parity response times for word stimuli relevant to the idiosyncratic content of their ruminative thoughts. These findings highlight the importance of studying the idiosyncratic content of each depressed individuals ruminative themes when investigating attentional biases within this population.

Abstract Cognitive theories of emotional disorders predict that individuals suffering from an emotional disorder exhibit increased interference for stimuli that are idiosyncratic to their disorder (Williams, Mathews, & MacLeod, 1996). However, due to inconsistent results, there is debate as to whether attention disrupting effects for negative information occur in depression. Suitability of experimental stimuli employed to elicit attentional biases is a commonly cited limitation that may have contributed to these inconsistencies. The present investigation was designed to examine the influence of rumination on the operation of attentional biases in depression using a digit-parity task. Depressed and never-depressed participants were required to make a speeded judgement about the parity of two digits flanking a to-be-ignored centrally presented word. Depressed individuals displayed longer digit-parity response times for depression-relevant words relative to never-depressed individuals. Furthermore, depressed individuals displayed the longest digit-parity response times for word stimuli relevant to the idiosyncratic content of their ruminative thoughts. These findings highlight the importance of studying the idiosyncratic content of each depressed individuals ruminative themes when investigating attentional biases within this population.

Thesis--University of Wisconsin--Madison. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 155-167).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1981. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 194-197).

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