Is a High Association Between Repetitive Negative Thinking and Negative Affect Predictive of Depressive Symptoms? A Clustering Approach for Experience-Sampling Data

A reciprocal relationship between repetitive negative thinking (RNT) and negative affect (NA) has been found in various types of psychopathology. Recent studies have suggested that the magnitude of this association can vary across time and individuals, which may inform future psychopathology. Here, we explored how these dynamics and interplays are manifested in student and general populations using a statistical clustering algorithm. Across three experience-sampling data sets, our clustering analyses consistently identified two groups of individuals; one group had a higher bidirectional association between RNT and NA (and also higher inertia) than the other group. Furthermore, a prospective analysis revealed that the group with the higher bidirectional association is at risk of developing depressive symptoms during the 3-month follow-up period if they had experienced high levels of NA over the experience-sampling phase. These findings suggest that the dysfunctional affective and cognitive dynamics would be a promising target of preventive intervention.

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Temperament, Repetitive Negative Thinking, and Depressive Symptoms in Early Adolescence: a Prospective Study

Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment ◽

10.1007/s10862-017-9624-8 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 40 (2) ◽

pp. 305-317 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Patricia Bijttebier ◽

Margot Bastin ◽

Sabine Nelis ◽

Sofie Weyn ◽

Koen Luyckx ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Prospective Study ◽

Early Adolescence ◽

Repetitive Negative Thinking ◽

Negative Thinking ◽

A Prospective Study

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Women With Generalized Anxiety Disorder Show Increased Repetitive Negative Thinking During the Luteal Phase of the Menstrual Cycle

Clinical Psychological Science ◽

10.1177/2167702620929635 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (6) ◽

pp. 1037-1045

Author(s):

Sophie H. Li ◽

Thomas F. Denson ◽

Bronwyn M. Graham

Keyword(s):

Anxiety Disorder ◽

Menstrual Cycle ◽

Negative Affect ◽

Generalized Anxiety Disorder ◽

Cognitive Processes ◽

Luteal Phase ◽

Anxiety Symptoms ◽

Generalized Anxiety ◽

Repetitive Negative Thinking ◽

Negative Thinking

Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) is a transdiagnostic feature of psychiatric disorders. Women report greater RNT than do men, yet the association between uniquely female characteristics, such as fluctuating sex hormones during the menstrual cycle, and RNT has not been established. Here we examined changes in RNT and anxiety symptoms across the menstrual cycle in women with ( n = 40) and without ( n = 41) generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Women with GAD reported an increase in RNT and negative affect from the follicular phase to the luteal phase; unexpectedly, this was not associated with changes in anxiety symptoms, estradiol, or progesterone. Nonanxious women reported no changes in RNT or anxiety symptoms over the menstrual cycle, but higher within-participants progesterone was associated with reduced RNT and negative affect. These results indicate that uniquely female biological processes may influence core cognitive processes that underlie anxiety disorders, but further investigations to determine the implications for symptom severity are required.

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0234 Sleep Timing and Duration Predict Levels of Repetitive Negative Thinking the Following Day

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsaa056.232 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. A90-A90

Author(s):

E Stewart ◽

C Acenowr ◽

M Coles

Keyword(s):

Negative Affect ◽

Sleep Duration ◽

Hierarchical Linear Modeling ◽

Linear Modeling ◽

Repetitive Negative Thinking ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Daily Monitoring ◽

Negative Thinking ◽

Sleep Timing ◽

Prospective Longitudinal

Abstract Introduction Several forms of psychopathology characterized by repetitive negative thinking (RNT) are also associated with problems in sleep timing and sleep duration (Morin & Ware, 1996). These relations have been documented in cross-sectional studies but only a few studies have investigated this relation using a prospective design. This study aimed to: (1) replicate cross-sectional findings linking sleep duration and sleep timing to RNT and (2) use prospective longitudinal methods to extend previous research regarding this relation. Methods Participants (N = 127) were undergraduates who completed daily measures of sleep, mood, and RNT for 18 days. Participants mean age was 19.31(SD = 1.41) and 49% were male, and 60% were Caucasian. Measures included the Perseverative Thoughts Questionnaire, the Sleep-50, and a Daily Monitoring Questionnaire (DMQ) comprised of items from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Results Insomnia severity and circadian disruption severity was correlated with RNT, and these relations remained significant after statistically controlling for the influence of negative affect (Insomnia: r(123)=.22, p=.01; Circadian: r(123)=.21, p=.02). When looking longitudinally within person Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) revealed later bedtimes (t(125) = 2.01, p = .05) and shorter sleep durations (t(125) = -3.17, p = .002) were predictors of heightened RNT the next day, even after statistically controlling for negative affect (RNTij=π oj+π 1j(RNT_lag) + π 2j(bedtime_lag/hours slept_lag) + π 3j(mood_lag) + eij). RNT did not predict sleep variables when running the reverse of these models, yet negative affect emerged as a significant predictor of sleep timing (t(125) = 2.41, p = .02) and sleep duration (t(125)= -2.44, p=.02), indicating that mood, not RNT, may influence bedtimes and hours slept. Conclusion Results indicate that bedtime and sleep duration may be contributors to RNT, and that sleep disruptions may precede the onset of RNT. If future studies replicate the current study’s findings, then sleep variables may serve as an important area of intervention and prevention of excessive RNT. Support N/A

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Unraveling pathways to depression in fibromyalgia, the role of perseverative negative thinking and negative affect

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.496 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. S207-S207

Author(s):

A.M. Pinto ◽

C. Costa ◽

A.T. Pereira ◽

M. Marques ◽

J.A. Pereira da Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Negative Affect ◽

Indirect Effects ◽

Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire ◽

Multiple Mediation ◽

Negative Thinking ◽

Competing Interest ◽

Perseverative Thinking ◽

The Relationship

IntroductionSeveral studies have demonstrated a strong link between fibromyalgia, negative affect (NA) and depression. However, it remains unclear why some fibromyalgia patients get depressed while others do not and, primarily, which mechanisms account for this difference. We hypothesize that, besides clinical features, the engagement in dysfunctional strategies like perseverative negative thinking (PNT) followed by an amplification of NA levels may increase the risk of fibromyalgia patients experiencing depressive symptoms.Objective/AimsTo explore the serial mediator effect of PNT and NA on the relationship between fibromyalgia symptoms and depressive symptoms.MethodsHundred and three women with fibromyalgia (mean age 47.32 ± 10.63) completed the Portuguese version of the Revised-Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire, Profile of Mood States and Beck Depression Inventory-II. The association between the variables was investigated via Pearson correlations and serial multiple mediation.ResultsThe estimated model was significant [F (3.86) = 57.318, P < .001] explaining 66.66% of depressive symptoms variance. The total effect of fibromyalgia symptoms on depressive symptoms was of .4998 (SE = 0.0795, P < 0.001; CI > 0.3417 and < 0.6578), with a significant direct effect of 0.1911 (SE = 0.0653; CI > 0.0614 and < 0.3209). The total indirect effects were of 0.3086 (SE = 0.0619; CI > 0.2033 < 0.4458). Three significant specific indirect effects were found.ConclusionThe effect of fibromyalgia symptoms on depressive symptoms is partially operated through cognitive interference/unproductiveness, which in turn influences NA levels. Such findings highlight the crucial role of these constructs in the relationship between fibromyalgia symptoms and depressive symptoms and the urge to address them when treating individuals reporting greater fibromyalgia symptoms.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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Dwelling on a Successful Task

Journal of Experimental Psychopathology ◽

10.5127/jep.047915 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. jep.047915

Author(s):

Ida K. Flink ◽

Madelon L. Peters ◽

Sofia Bergbom ◽

Marie Bergman ◽

Karin Ekstrand ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Negative Affect ◽

Positive Affect ◽

Emotional Difficulties ◽

Repetitive Negative Thinking ◽

Positive Events ◽

Processing Mode ◽

Repetitive Thinking ◽

Negative Thinking ◽

Positive Material ◽

Negative Thoughts

Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) has been identified as a key maintaining process of emotional difficulties. However, the consequences of repetitive thinking may depend on whether negative thoughts or feelings are processed in an abstract, evaluative mode, or in a concrete, process-focused mode. In recent years an increasing number of studies has also explored the effect of processing mode in relation to positive events, yielding inconsistent results. So far, the studies using positive material have not examined the interaction between trait rumination and processing mode. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to further explore the effects of abstract vs. concrete mode of processing on positive affect and negative affect in the context of a success task in a sample scoring high on trait rumination. 62 participants were randomly assigned to abstract vs. concrete processing training prior to a success task. The results showed that positive affect increased whereas negative affect and state RNT decreased after the success task in both groups. However, abstract vs. concrete processing did not have an effect on outcome. The findings indicate that processing mode does not influence outcome in the context of a success task.

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The role of early adversity and cognitive vulnerability in postnatal stress and depression

Current Psychology ◽

10.1007/s12144-021-02651-1 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Agnes Bohne ◽

Ragnhild Sørensen Høifødt ◽

Dag Nordahl ◽

Inger Pauline Landsem ◽

Vibeke Moe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Parenting Stress ◽

Cognitive Vulnerability ◽

Perinatal Period ◽

Early Adversity ◽

Repetitive Negative Thinking ◽

Negative Thinking ◽

Postnatal Depressive Symptoms ◽

Behavior Observation ◽

Infant Faces

AbstractThe purpose of the present study was to examine vulnerability factors in expecting parents that might lead to mental illness in the perinatal period. Specifically, we studied how parental early adversity, attentional bias to infant faces, repetitive negative thinking, and demographic factors, were associated with pre- and postnatal depressive symptoms and parenting stress. Participants were expecting parents taking part in the Northern Babies Longitudinal Study, where assessments were made both pre- and postnatally. Assessments included both questionnaires and cognitive tasks. About half of the participants received the Newborn Behavior Observation (NBO)-intervention after birth, between pre- and postnatal assessments. Results show that repetitive negative thinking was a significant predictor of both depressive symptoms and parenting stress, while education, social support, and parity came out as protective factors, especially in mothers. Parental early adversity had an indirect effect on postnatal depressive symptoms and parenting stress, mediated by prenatal and postnatal depressive symptoms, respectively. The NBO intervention did not affect the results, signifying the importance of early childhood adverse events and negative thinking on parents' postnatal adjustment and mood, even when an intervention is provided. In conclusion, repetitive negative thinking is a significant vulnerability factor independent of the presence of depressive symptoms, and health professionals must be aware of parents’ thinking style both during pregnancy and after birth.

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