The Link Between Cognitive Flexibility and Habitual Rumination

Abstract

Resent research, building on the theory that rumination can develop into a habitual response triggered by negative mood, has suggested that the strength of this triggering effect is mediated by cognitive inflexibility. Building on these results, this study set out to explore differences in ruminative tendencies between those with high and low cognitive flexibility respectively. Three different approaches were used. Firstly, the two groups (high vs low cognitive flexibility) were compared in relation to self-reported tendency to habitually think negative thoughts about oneself. Secondly, the levels of increase in ruminative thoughts following a free-thinking task in experimental condition were compared between the groups, and lastly the groups were compared based on EMA measures on rumination, collected via a smartphone app during a five-day period. There was a slight difference in means between the two groups on most rumination measures and a clear directional trend. Those with low cognitive flexibility ruminated more in everyday situations and were more likely to engage in ruminative thoughts following a low-mood cue in laboratory conditions. These findings lend further support to the assumption that the strength of a ruminative response triggered by low mood is dependent on cognitive flexibility.