Effects of rumination on attentional bias and attentional functioning

YAMAMOTO Tatsuya SAKAI Makoto

Graduate School of Psychology, Chukyo University School of Psychology, Chukyo University

Introduction

Rumination is a mode of responding to distress that involves repetitively and passively focusing on symptoms of distress, as well as on possible causes and consequences of these symptoms (Nolen-Hoeksema et al., 2008) It is important to investigate attentional features of rumination in the development and maintenance of depression. Purpose: To determine the effects of rumination on attentional bias and attentional functioning.

Method
Participants: 242 Japanese undergraduate students ( 76 men, 166 women, Average age 19.69 1.07) Measures (1) Ruminative Responses ScaleHasegawa, 2011 (2) Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire (Takahashi et al., 2007) (3) Attentional Control Scale in Effortful Control Scale (Yamagata et al., 2005) (4) Beck Depression Inventory (Hayashi & Takimoto, 1991)

Result
All participants were divided into two groups by average score of BDI and RRS. Analysis of Variance (Independent variables: groups of BDI and RRS, Dependent variable: subscales of SPSRQ and ACS.
Table 1 Comparison of scores and result of ANOVA Depression Rumination Sensitivity to Punishment Sensitivity to Reward Attentional Shifting from Punishment Attentional Shifting from Reward Focusing Attentional Shifting M SD M SD M SD M SD M SD M SD Low (n=93) 35.39 (6.31) 24.80 (4.03) 8.05 (3.22) 13.35 (2.98) 11.66 (3.40) 12.06 (2.88) Low High (n=47) 41.45 (5.58) 26.02 (3.07) 7.09 (2.96) 12.00 (3.24) 10.32 (2.87) 10.94 (2.79) High Low (n=31) 39.39 (4.94) 24.32 (4.56) 8.94 (3.64) 12.32 (2.87) 11.32 (3.71) 10.84 (2.90) High (n=71) 42.94 (7.21) 25.66 (4.37) 6.34 (3.03) 12.51 (4.44) 9.66 (4.06) 10.58 (3.84) Main Effect (F) <Effect Size 2> Depression 9.69 <0.03> 0.54 <0.00> 0.02 <0.00> 0.29 <0.00> 0.99 <0.00> 3.17 <0.01>
**

Rumination 29.65*** <0.10> 5.14* <0.02> 16.12*** <0.70> 1.42 <0.01> 9.07** <0.04> 2.44 <0.01>

Interaction ( F) 2.01 <0.01> 0.01 <0.00> 3.36 <0.02> 2.46 <0.01> 0.11 <0.00> 0.95 <0.00>

Note. *p<.05

**

p<.01

***

p<.001

Discussion

Rumination was significant in Sensitivity to Punishment, Sensitivity to Reward, Attentional Shifting from Punishment, and Focusing. Depression was significant only in Sensitivity to Punishment.

The effect of rumination should be considered with regard to attentional bias and attentional functioning impairments rather than depressive symptoms.