Reduced Attention Towards Accomplishments Mediates the Effect of Self-Critical Rumination on Regret

Rumination is associated with counterfactual thinking (CFT) and regret, but underlying mechanisms in this association are uninvestigated. Rumination is characterized by attentional biases and focusing attention towards accomplishments versus lost opportunities influences CFT and regret. The goal of this study was to investigate the association between self-critical rumination and attention towards accomplishments and lost opportunities, and how this may underly the link between rumination and CFT and regret.

Hundred healthy female participants performed a risk-taking task while (a) attention towards accomplishments and lost opportunities, and (b) self-reported CFT and regret were measured.

Analyses showed that participants with high (versus low) rumination tendencies focused less on accomplishments, and this mediated the association between rumination and regret.

These findings suggest that reduced attention towards accomplishments may be an underlying mechanism in the link between rumination and regret, and interventions could target this attentional bias for therapeutic benefit.