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Cited by 2,421Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesMind wandering and attentionIdentity, Memory, and Therapy

Constructive and unconstructive repetitive thought

Open access
Watkins, Edward R.·2008·Psychological Bulletin
DOI 10.1037/0033-2909.134.2.163PMC PMC2672052
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Abstract

The author reviews research showing that repetitive thought (RT) can have constructive or unconstructive consequences. The main unconstructive consequences of RT are (a) depression, (b) anxiety, and (c) difficulties in physical health. The main constructive consequences of RT are (a) recovery from upsetting and traumatic events, (b) adaptive preparation and anticipatory planning, (c) recovery from depression, and (d) uptake of health-promoting behaviors. Several potential principles accounting for these distinct consequences of RT are identified within this review: (a) the valence of thought content, (b) the intrapersonal and situational context in which RT occurs, and (c) the level of construal (abstract vs. concrete processing) adopted during RT. Of the existing models of RT, it is proposed that an elaborated version of the control theory account provides the best theoretical framework to account for its distinct consequences.

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Crossref · 10.1037/0033-2909.134.2.163

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  • Much psychological theorizing about the nature of GAD and MDD in terms of disruption of mind and body has been predicated on a functional relationship between motivational intensity and negative self-referentiality.

    “In particular, much of the psychological theorizing about the nature of GAD and MDD in terms of disruption of mind and body has been predicated on a functional relationship between the kinds and intensity of visceral and psychological sensations that one experiences (i.e., motivational intensity) and the ways by which one attempts to respond to their arising (i.e., negative self-referentiality; B”

    From Distinct functional connectivities predict clinical response with emotion regulation therapy (2017) · cites this paper as Watkins, 2008

    The sections on vulnerability to anxiety and depression link worry to GAD and repetitive thought to depressive symptoms. The section on intrapersonal context also describes how mood and self-beliefs shape the consequences of repetitive thought. Our copy does not establish the claimed functional relationship between the intensity of visceral or psychological sensations and negative self-referentiality, or say that theorizing about both disorders is predicated on it; page numbers were unavailable. (LLM, conf=0.76)

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  • Worry involves perseverative thinking about future threats.

    “worry, which involves perseverative thinking about future threats [95,96]”

    From 10-Week Trajectories of Candidate Psychological Processes Differentially Predict Mental Health Gains from Online Dyadic versus Mindfulness Interventions: A Randomized Clinical Trial (2024) · cites this paper as [96]

  • Worry and rumination, as forms of NSRP, are negatively reinforced when aversive emotions decrease.

    “Theorists (e.g., Borkovec et al., 2004; Nolen-Hoeksema, Wisco, & Lyubomirsky, 2008; Watkins, 2008) have argued that NSRP including worry and rumination becomes negatively reinforced by the reduction in aversive emotions.”

    From What, me worry and ruminate about dsm-5 and rdoc? The importance of targeting negative self-referential processing (2013) · cites this paper as Watkins, 2008

    The sections on vulnerability to depression and anxiety report that rumination often exacerbates negative mood and that worry can increase anxiety, but they do not address whether reductions in aversive emotions negatively reinforce either form of thought. Searches for negative reinforcement and emotional avoidance found no passage establishing the attributed mechanism. The reported increases in distress do not rule out relief under other conditions. (LLM, conf=0.72)

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  • These impairments often manifest as increased distractibility or elevated mind-wandering, as well as hyperactivity of the default network and weaker anticorrelations with networks involved in external attention.

    “These impairments often manifest as increased distractibility or elevated levels of mind-wandering,212,228–231 as well as hyperactivity of the DN and weaker anticorrelations with networks involved in external attention.146–148,229,232–235”

    From The default network and self-generated thought: component processes, dynamic control, and clinical relevance (2014) · cites this paper as [212]

  • NSRPs are common processes in many forms of psychopathology, including GAD and MDD, and include repetitive or perseverative thought such as rumination and worry.

    “NSRPs are common processes in many forms of psychopathology, including GAD and MDD, and includes repetitive or perseverative thought (Watkins, 2008) such as rumination (e.g., repetitive thinking about past mistakes aimed at reducing distress related to perceived losses; Nolen-Hoeksema et al., 2008) and worry (e.g., repetitive thinking about future events aimed at reducing distress that arises from”

    From Emotion Regulation Therapy: A Mechanism-Targeted Treatment for Disorders of Distress (2017) · cites this paper as Watkins, 2008

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 5

  1. Ehring T. (2007, 7). Development and validation of a content-independent measure of perseverative thinking. In De Jong-Meyer R. (Chair), Dismantling ruminative thinking. Symposium conducted at the Fifth World Congress of Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies, Barcelona, Spain.
  2. Ehring T. A., Szeimies A.-K., & Schaffrick C. (2007, 7). The effects of rumination on analogue posttraumatic stress symptoms. In Ehring T. (Chair), Cognitive processes in posttraumatic stress disorder. Symposium conducted at the Fifth World Congress of Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies, Barcelona, Spain.
  3. Harvey A. G., Watkins E., Mansell W., & Shafran R. (2004). Cognitive behavioural processes across psychological disorders. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
  4. Martin L. L., & Tesser A. (1996). Some ruminative thoughts. In Wyer R. S. (Ed.), Ruminative thoughts: Advances in social cognition (Vol. 9, pp. 1– 47). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
  5. Papageorgiou C., & Wells A. (2004). Depressive rumination. Chichester, United Kingdom: Wiley.

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Authors
Watkins, E. R.
Affiliations
University of Exeter (GB)
Corresponding author
Watkins, Edward R.
ORCID
Watkins, Edward R.
Venue
Psychological Bulletin
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2008-03
Volume
134
Issue
2
Pages
163-206
ISSN
  • 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1455
DOI
10.1037/0033-2909.134.2.163
PMC
PMC2672052
OpenAlex
W2140526779
Semantic Scholar
e688b6dad0f51934879bed75126a36ac3beea1b6
Cited by
2,421
References
433
Citations by year
2026: 149 · 2025: 156 · 2024: 168 · 2023: 149 · 2022: 144 · 2021: 170 · 2020: 169 · 2019: 123 · 2018: 157 · 2017: 130 · 2016: 142 · 2015: 134 · 2014: 126 · 2013: 109 · 2012: 114
FWCI
126.79
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter) (publishedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion)
Funders
Wellcome Trust (065809; 080099)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Mind wandering and attention
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Identity, Memory, and Therapy
Keywords
repetitive thinking, rumination, depression, anxiety, physical health, trauma recovery, anticipatory planning, health-promoting behaviors, construal level
MeSH terms
Cognition, Humans, Periodicity, Psychological Theory, Semantics, Thinking

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