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Abstract
Rumination, a cognitive process that involves passively and repetitively focusing on negative feelings and their consequences, has been linked to negative emotional outcomes. Previous research suggests that rumination may lead to deleterious outcomes through prolonging emotional reactivity; however, evidence supporting the link between rumination and reactivity has been mixed. In the present study, we examined the relationship between state and trait rumination and multi-modal emotional reactivity (i.e., hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, autonomic nervous system, subjective experience). Fifty undergraduates participated in a social evaluative laboratory stressor. They also reported on their general tendency to ruminate and their use of rumination in response to this particular laboratory stressor. State, but not trait, rumination was associated with increases in cortisol and negative affect. Findings underscore the importance of multi-modal assessment of emotional reactivity and suggest important implications for rumination following a stressor.
The authors thank Vivian Burnette, Emily Hamm, Elizabeth Tracey and Peter Ehlinger for their help with data collection and special thanks to Vivian for help with data processing.
The authors thank Vivian Burnette, Emily Hamm, Elizabeth Tracey and Peter Ehlinger for their help with data collection and special thanks to Vivian for help with data processing.
Notes
1 Because two participants were missing data for depressive symptoms, we chose to present results without covarying depression. However, the pattern of results was identical when covarying depressive symptoms, and depressive symptom scores did not have any significant effects in the models.