title: An experiential avoidance conceptualization of depressive rumination: three tests of the model.
abstract: This study examined an experiential avoidance conceptualization of depressive rumination in 3 ways: 1) associations among questionnaire measures of rumination, experiential avoidance, and fear of emotions; 2) performance on a dichotic listening task that highlights preferences for non-depressive material; and 3) psychophysiological reactivity in an avoidance paradigm modeled after the one used by Borkovec, Lyonfields, Wiser, and Deihl (1993) in their examination of worry. One hundred and thirty-eight undergraduates completed questionnaire measures and participated in a clinical interview to diagnose current and past episodes of depression. Of those, 100 were randomly assigned to a rumination or relaxation induction condition and participated in a dichotic listening task, rumination/relaxation induction, and depression induction. Questionnaire measures confirmed a relationship between rumination status and avoidance; however, no significant effects were found in the dichotic listening task. Psychophysiological measures indicated no difference in physiological response to a depression induction among high ruminators (HR). However, low ruminators (LR) in the relaxation condition exhibited a larger IBI response than LR in the rumination condition. Overall, these results provide partial support for an avoidance conceptualization of depressive rumination. Implications of these findings are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Winston-Salem VA Outpatient Clinic, 190 Kimel Park Dr, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. jeannette.giorgio@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jeannette M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Giorgio
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanflippo
authors.forename: Evan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kleiman
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reilly
authors.forename: Rachel E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Bender
authors.forename: Clara A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Richard T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Lauren B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Alloy
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010467:Perceptual Defense; D012016:Reference Values; D012094:Repression, Psychology; D013850:Thinking; D055815:Young Adult