title: Rumination and symptom reports in children and adolescents: results of a cross-sectional and experimental study.
abstract: This study explores the relationship between a ruminative response style and symptom reports in children and adolescents of grades 5, 7 and 9 from German secondary schools. Questionnaires were used to assess rumination and symptom reports. A group of children and adolescents (N = 140) were asked to think first about the items before responding to them (increased attention condition), while a second group (N = 260) served as control group (standard condition). The assumption was that rumination and also additional attention to the symptoms by instruction would increase the reported frequency of experiencing somatic and psychological symptoms. The results showed significant relations between symptom reports and rumination, which increased with grade. There were sex differences for somatic symptom reports with increased symptom frequencies in girls, which were mediated by rumination. Moreover, instructing participants to think first about the items led to an increase in reported symptoms. It is concluded that an increased attention to symptoms of distress increases symptom reports, which may be induced momentarily by instruction and also more generally by a ruminative response style. Conclusions regarding prevention and concerning instructions in symptom report questionnaires are outlined.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , University of Bielefeld , Bielefeld , Germany .
authors.forename: Arnold
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lohaus
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vierhaus
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frevert
authors.forename: Ann-Kathrin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kreienborg
authors.forename: Elena F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Laker
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pelster
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schilling
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001288:Attention; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires