The psychosocial context of depressive rumination: ruminative brooding predicts diminished relationship satisfaction in individuals with a history of past major depression.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that rumination contributes to poor social functioning by examining whether ruminative brooding predicts subsequent relationship satisfaction in individuals with a history of major depression.


METHODS
Participants (N=57) were interviewed to assess depressive symptoms and completed self-report measures of brooding and relationship satisfaction, at intake into the study (Time 1) and 3 months later (Time 2).


RESULTS
Brooding was related concurrently to relationship satisfaction at Time 2 (p<.01; approaching significance at Time 1, p=.06). Baseline brooding predicted diminished relationship satisfaction 3 months later, controlling for baseline relationship satisfaction (p<.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Brooding may be an early warning sign for increasing relationship difficulties in those vulnerable to depression.
Pearson
Katherine A
KA
Mood Disorders Centre, University of Exeter, UK. k.a.pearson@exeter.ac.uk
Watkins
Edward R
ER
Kuyken
Willem
W
Mullan
Eugene G
EG
D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011584:Psychology; D012008:Recurrence; D012660:Semantics