title: Is there an association between rumination and self-reported physical health? A one-year follow-up in a young and an elderly sample.
abstract: Cross-sectional studies have suggested an association between rumination and subjective health. The aim of the present study was to investigate in a longitudinal design whether rumination was related to self-reported physical health. A total of 96 young (age range 20-35) and 110 elderly (age range 70-85) participants completed questionnaires measuring rumination, negative affect, life events, and self-reported physical health at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. Multiple linear regressions showed a significant association between self-reported physical health at time I only for the elderly and negative affect mediated the association. At follow-up, rumination was significantly associated with self-reported physical health only for the young and the association was only partly mediated by negative affect. In conclusion, rumination is associated with poorer self-reported physical health, but the association depends on the age of the individual as well as time span studied.
authors.affiliation: Psychooncology Research Unit, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. dorthet@psy.au.dk
authors.forename: Dorthe Kirkegaard
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.forename: Mimi Yung
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Mehlsen
authors.forename: Frede
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Olesen
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hokland
authors.forename: Andrus
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Viidik
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Avlund
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zachariae
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012650:Self Disclosure; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires