Response Styles Theory

In view of recent findings regarding the multiple associations between rumination with depression as well as anxiety, the purpose of this study was to determine whether associations of rumination with internalizing symptoms is reflective of effects of rumination on the shared tripartite factor of negative affect or of independent associations between rumination and the specific factors of both depression (i.e. low positive affect) and anxiety (i.e. physiological hyperarousal). Effects of rumination on tripartite factors were tested within the framework of Nolen-Hoeksema's response styles theory in order to evaluate the presence of any sex differences in rumination and to examine moderating effects of stress on the relationship between rumination and the tripartite factors. Given that subtypes of rumination (i.e. brooding and reflection) have been found in children, the longitudinal associations between the tripartite factors and these ruminative subtypes were evaluated. Data from children in 2nd through 7th grades (N=303) was collected in 3 waves over 2 academic years. As hypothesized, results from the latent growth curve model analyses demonstrated that both reflection and brooding have stronger associations with negative affect than low positive affect, suggesting that associations of rumination with depression seem to be reflective of the effects of rumination on the shared factor common to both depression and anxiety (i.e. negative affect) rather than specific components. However, contrary to predictions, brooding was also associated with physiological hyperarousal. Similarly, results from the multisample latent growth curve models examining the moderating effects of sex and stress did not support our hypotheses since girls did not report higher levels of rumination and levels of stress did not affect the relationship between ruminative subtypes and tripartite factors. These main findings as well as additional results are discussed in light of current theories and previous research.