Effects of ruminative response styles and cognitive control on depression in university students

Abstract

A model showing the relationship between cognitive control, ruminative responses, and depression was developed to examine the effects of cognitive control on ruminative responses and depression. Cognitive control is considered important for ruminating without getting depressed. The model was examined through Structural Equation Modeling in university students (N=248). The results suggested that among ruminative responses, negative rumination and self-focused rumination increased depression, whereas problem-solving rumination reduced depression. Moreover, mitigation of catastrophic rumination suppressed negative rumination and self-focused rumination, leading to problem-solving rumination. Furthermore, analysis of thoughts and behaviors, which are the starting points of the model, facilitated mitigation of catastrophic rumination, self-focused rumination, and problem-solving rumination. Based on the above, it is suggested important to acquire self-efficacy in cognitive control.