Depressive Rumination and the Habit Goal Framework

Abstract

Objective: Depressive rumination is an established prognostic factor for recurrent depression. According to a new framework, it has been proposed that rumination might be a form of mental habit. The aim of the present study was to explore the association between rumination and habitual characteristics of negative thought. Additionally, it was explored if the relationship between habitual characteristics of negative thought and negative mood, following a rumination induction task, were moderated by having a history of recurrent depression. Method: Participants were 111 individuals from the general public, either formerly depressed (FD) or having no history of depression or other mental illnesses (ND). They were assessed on self-report measures of rumination, habitual characteristics and habitual responding in addition to other measurements. Participants also completed experimental tasks on rumination. Results: Rumination, automaticity of responding and habitual characteristics of negative thought were greater among FD than ND. A strong relationship was found between habitual characteristics and rumination tendencies as measured with self-report and using established experimental tasks. However, the relationship was often stronger or only present among ND. Additional analyses showed that the relationship between rumination and habitual characteristics of negative thought were moderated by group (FD and ND). However, a main effect was only found for ND. Thus, although these habitual and rumination measurements were greater among FD they were only significantly inter-correlated for ND. Conclusion: The findings of the present study suggest that rumination and habitual characteristics of negative thought are greater among FD but that the relationship between those constructs and other measurements of habit are stronger among ND. This suggests that a history of recurrent depression might obfuscate the association between these constructs.