Comparison of State Rumination Induction Procedures and Effects

Abstract

Study piloted effects of different state rumination induction methods and qualitatively studied what factors facilitate or inhibit rumination induction. Three methods were used: sad autobiographical memory with Response Manipulation Task (RMT); sad film with autobiographical memory and RMT; sad melody with sad autobiographical memory and RMT. Control groups had same conditions without rumination and negative valence components. 86 people completed online experiment, and 8 participated in interviews. Results were statistically not significant. Based on the interviews, factors inducing rumination were: presence of personally significant sad memory; prior low mood; and self-reported emotional sensitivity. Inhibiting factors included: absence of significant memory; positive reappraisal during task; perceived low intensity of stimuli. Results of study contribute to understanding rumination mechanisms and to improvement of experimental paradigms.