The tendency to ruminate is linked to several negative clinical outcomes. Research has associated this cognitive style with an increase in the severity of depression symptoms, a heightened risk of experiencing major depressive episodes, and an increase in the chronicity or long-term persistence of these episodes.

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The rumination theory of depression proposes that an individual's thoughts about their own distressed moods, particularly their depressive symptoms, can heighten the risk and prolong the duration of depression. This theory, first described in the late 1980s, focuses on rumination as a key mechanism in the development of depression.

Rumination Theory of Depression

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Negative Outcomes Associated with Rumination

The rumination theory of depression was initially formulated to account for the higher prevalence of depression in women compared to men. Research indicates that women have a greater tendency than men to ruminate when they feel sad or depressed, which is considered a key factor in this gender disparity.

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