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.