Preliminary Evidence for a Nexus between Rumination, Behavioural Avoidance, Motive Satisfaction and Depression
Abstract
The present study tested a theoretically derived link between rumination and depressive symptoms through behavioural avoidance and reduced motive satisfaction as a key aspect of positive reinforcement. Rumination, behavioural avoidance, motive satisfaction and levels of depression were assessed via self‐report measures in a clinical sample of 160 patients with major depressive disorder. Path analysis‐based mediation analysis was used to estimate the direct and indirect effects as proposed by the theoretical model. Operating in serial, behavioural avoidance and motive satisfaction partially mediated the association between rumination and depressive symptoms, irrespective of gender, medication and co‐morbid anxiety disorders. This is the first study investigating the associations between behavioural avoidance, rumination and depression in a clinical sample of depressed patients. The findings are in line with an understanding of rumination in depression as also serving an avoidance function. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Message: Rumination, avoidance, motive satisfaction and levels of depressive symptoms were examined in a clinical sample of 160 outpatients with major depressive disorder. Path analysis‐based mediation analysis revealed that, operating in serial, avoidance and motive satisfaction partially mediated the link between rumination and levels of depressive symptoms. Findings support an understanding of rumination in depression as serving an avoidance function.
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Rumination may serve an avoidant function and may serve as a form of cognitive avoidance which better captures the key mechanism that leads to changes in experiential avoidance and subsequently psychosocial outcomes.
“Rumination may serve an avoidant function, 75 and may serve as a form of cognitive avoidance which better captures the key mechanism that leads to changes in the broader construct of EA and, subsequently, psychosocial outcomes.33,34”
From Mindfulness and Psychosocial Symptoms in People with Cancer: Testing Rumination and Experiential Avoidance as Mediators, and Sex as a Moderator. (2025) · cites this paper as [75]
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- Authors
- Brockmeyer, T., Holtforth, M. G., Krieger, T., Altenstein, D., Doerig, N., Zimmermann, J., Backenstrass, M., Friederich, H., & Bents, H.
- Affiliations
- Heidelberg University (DE)
- University of Bern (CH)
- University of Zurich (CH)
- University of Kassel (DE)
- Klinikum Stuttgart (DE)
- University Hospital Heidelberg (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Brockmeyer, Timo
- ORCID
- Venue
- Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2014-01-26
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 232-239
- ISSN
- 1063-3995 (ISSN-L)
- 1099-0879
- OpenAlex
- W1933957414
- Cited by
- 35
- References
- 51
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 3
- FWCI
- 4.62
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- BORIS (University Library Bern) (submittedVersion)
- Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- University of Heidelberg, Centre for Psychological Psychotherapy
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Mental Health Research Topics
- Keywords
- rumination, avoidance behavior, positive reinforcement, depressive symptoms, major depressive disorder, mediation
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Anxiety Disorders, Attention, Avoidance Learning, Defense Mechanisms, Major Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Motivation, Reinforcement, Psychology, Statistics as Topic, Thinking, Comorbidity
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