Positive Beliefs about Rumination Are Associated with Ruminative Thinking and Affect in Daily Life: Evidence for a Metacognitive View on Depression. Issue 5 (September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kubiak, Thomas; Zahn, Daniela; Siewert, Kerstin; Jonas, Cornelia; Weber, Hannelore
• Is Part Of: Behavioural and cognitive psychotherapy. Volume 42:Issue 5(2014)
• Page Start: 568
• Page End: 576
• Publication Date: 2014-09
• Subjects: Behavior therapy -- Periodicals; 616.89142
• DOI: 10.1017/S1352465813000325
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1352-4658

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p> <bold>Background:</bold> Self-regulatory executive function theory (Wells and Matthews, 1994; Wells, 2008) stresses the role of metacognitions in the development of emotional disorders. Within this metacognitive model, positive beliefs about ruminative thinking are thought to be a risk factor for engaging in rumination and subsequently for depression. However, most of the existing research relies on retrospective self-report trait measures. <bold>Aims:</bold> The aim of the present study was to examine the theory's predictions with an Ecological Momentary Assessment approach capturing rumination as it occurs in daily life. <bold>Method:</bold> Non-clinical participants (<italic>N</italic> = 93) were equipped with electronic diaries and completed four signal-contingent momentary self-reports per day for 4 weeks. A multilevel mediation model was computed to examine associations between positive beliefs about rumination and ruminative thinking and negative affect in daily life. <bold>Results:</bold> Positive beliefs about rumination were significantly associated with ruminative thinking as it occurs in daily life. We further found evidence for a negative association with positive affect that was completely mediated via ruminative thinking in daily life occurring in response to negative emotions. <bold>Conclusions:</bold> Our results add ecologically valid corroborating evidence for the metacognitive model of emotional disorders within the framework of self-regulatory executive function theory.</p> </abstract>