An Investigation of Maintenance and the Correlates of Depression: Rumination, Emotion Regulation, Cognitive Inhibition, Sleep and Diet
Year: 2013
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Prior research has shown that depression is highly correlated with rumination, difficulties with emotion regulation and cognitive inhibition, and changes in sleep and appetite. Yet, little information exists regarding possible associations between these constructs themselves within depressed individuals. Given the possible link between the ongoing state of depression and these factors, it is important to determine how these factors are related to one another within the depressed state. Therefore, the present study extended previous research by investigating the relationship between rumination, emotion regulation, cognitive inhibition, sleep and diet in the context of depression. Questionnaires related to rumination, emotion regulation, sleep, and personal diet among controls, previously-depressed and currently depressed participants. Participants also completed a go/no-go computer task in which they identified the valance of emotional words. The results revealed that depressed and previously-depressed individuals responded more quickly to emotional words than healthy controls. The individuals with current depressive symptomology also exhibited impairments in the inhibition of negative stimuli. The results also suggested that maladaptive emotional re-activity may be a remnant of previous functioning among those with a past history of depression, as the current sample demonstrated emotion regulation trouble despite their lower levels of depressive symptoms. A number of processes were also found to be related in the context of a depressive episode. These findings highlight the significance of identifying the nature of the relationships between symptoms thought to maintain one's depression, as this could help to develop more effective intervention strategies.
Author: Elisabeth Harfmann
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2169576694