title: Ruminative self-focus and negative affect: an experience sampling study.
abstract: The authors conducted an experience sampling study to investigate the relationship between momentary ruminative self-focus and negative affect. Ninety-three adults recorded these variables at quasi-random intervals 8 times daily for 1 week. Scores on questionnaire measures of dispositional rumination were associated with mean levels of momentary ruminative self-focus over the experience sampling week. Concurrently, momentary ruminative self-focus was positively associated with negative affect. Cross-lagged analyses revealed that whereas ruminative self-focus predicted negative affect at a subsequent occasion, negative affect also predicted ruminative self-focus at a subsequent occasion. Decomposition of the dispositional rumination measure suggested that brooding, but not reflective pondering, was associated with higher mean levels of negative affect. Though broadly consistent with Nolen-Hoeksema's (1991) response styles theory, these results suggest that a reciprocal relationship exists between ruminative self-focus and negative affect.
authors.affiliation: Mood Disorder Center, School of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Moberly
authors.forename: Edward R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Watkins
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention; D003469:Culture; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D004282:Documentation / Q000379:methods; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013694:Temperament