Rumination and Problem Solving: A Focus on Dispositions, Processes, and the Five-Step Framework
Abstract
Rumination is a method of responding to and coping with negative moods that involves
repetitively and passively focusing on the causes, consequences, and symptoms of negative
mood (Nolen-Hoeksema, 1991 ). Research has indicated that rumination may be an
important vulnerability factor for depression. The present study aimed to add to this
literature by investigating the deleterious effects that rumination, the process and
characteristic trait, has on all five stages of problem solving. The primary hypothesis was
that individuals who were high in trait rumination would demonstrate the least effective
problem solving performance when induced to ruminate in comparison to when they were
induced to distract and in comparison to those low in trait rumination. Overall, the results
did not support this hypothesis. The single significant finding was that individuals rated
their solutions as less effective when distracting, regardless of trait rumination. This paper
critically reviews the literature on the relationship between rumination and problem solving
and makes several suggestions for future research.