A roadmap to rumination: A review of the definition, assessment, and conceptualization of this multifaceted construct

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Abstract

Rumination has been widely studied and is a crucial component in the study of cognitive vulnerabilities to depression. However, rumination means different things in the context of different theories, and has not been uniformly defined or measured. This article aims to review models of rumination, as well as the various ways in which it is assessed. The models are compared and contrasted with respect to several important dimensions of rumination. Guidelines to consider in the selection of a model and measure of rumination are presented, and suggestions for the conceptualization of rumination are offered. In addition, rumination's relation to other similar constructs is evaluated. Finally, future directions for the study of ruminative phenomena are presented. It is hoped that this article will be a useful guide to those interested in studying the multi-faceted construct of rumination.

Introduction

Over the past two decades, rumination has evolved as a critical construct in understanding the development and persistence of depressed mood. Hundreds of articles have addressed rumination related topics, and consistent evidence for the role of ruminative thought processes in depression has emerged. Although the literature supporting rumination is robust, there is no unified definition of rumination or standard way of measuring it. In addition, it remains unclear how rumination relates to other similar constructs, such as private self-consciousness, emotion focused coping, worry, or repetitive thought processes more generally. Given the important role rumination has played in depression research, the goal of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of the varying definitions of rumination and an evaluation of current measures of rumination. The various models of rumination are compared and contrasted with respect to several important dimensions and the relationship of rumination to other similar constructs is explored. It is hoped that a comprehensive summary of rumination and related constructs will enable future researchers to more accurately identify and clarify their definition and measurement of the construct, and thereby enhance rumination's utility in understanding depression and other mental health outcomes.

Section snippets

Models of rumination

Several models of rumination have been presented. Table 1 clarifies how these models define rumination, identifies the measure that is appropriate given the construal of the construct, and briefly summarizes findings related to the model.

The most prolific theory of rumination is Nolen-Hoeksema's (1991) Response Styles Theory (RST, Table 1). In RST, rumination consists of repetitively thinking about the causes, consequences, and symptoms of one's negative affect. Although this is the most widely

Measures of rumination

As presented in Table 2, measures from various areas of research have also been used to describe ruminative phenomena. Table 2 provides a context for these various ways of measuring rumination and presents findings related to each measure.

The rumination scale of the Responses to Stress Questionnaire places rumination in the larger context of coping and emotion regulation (Conner-Smith, Compas, Wadsworth, Thompsen, & Saltzman, 2000). However, it is supposed that rumination is an involuntary

Conclusions and future directions

As can be seen from this review, rumination is a multifaceted, multidimensional construct that has been studied in a variety of contexts and in relation to a variety of psychological and health outcomes. Although it is clear that rumination is important in the development of depression and anxiety, it can be difficult to determine how it is best characterized, best measured, and best used to predict certain outcomes. Therefore, as this construct becomes increasingly important in clinical

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