A roadmap to rumination: A review of the definition, assessment, and conceptualization of this multifaceted construct

By J. Smith, L. Alloy. Clinical Psychology Review, 2008

793 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Rumination has been widely studied and is a crucial component in the study of cognitive vulnerabilities to depression. However, rumination means different things in the context of different theories, and has not been uniformly defined or measured. This article aims to review models of rumination, as well as the various ways in which it is assessed. The models are compared and contrasted with respect to several important dimensions of rumination. Guidelines to consider in the selection of a model and measure of rumination are presented, and suggestions for the conceptualization of rumination are offered. In addition, rumination's relation to other similar constructs is evaluated. Finally, future directions for the study of ruminative phenomena are presented. It is hoped that this article will be a useful guide to those interested in studying the multi-faceted construct of rumination.

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Citations in the corpus

Self-assessment in the process of self-regulated learning and its relationship with academic achievement (2020, background): “Counter-productive self-reflection, or rumination, has been widely studied in counselling and clinical psychology (Smith and Alloy 2009).”
Self-Awareness Part 1: Definition, Measures, Effects, Functions, and Antecedents (2011, background): “Psychologically unhealthy individuals are known to self-ruminate (Smith & Allow, 2009).”
Customer Mistreatment: A Review of Conceptualizations and a Multilevel Theoretical Model (2015, background): “…blockage triggers rumination because it may increase the availability of the goal failure experience (e.g., customer mistreatment), facilitating the ease with which it is remembered (Martin & Tesser, 1989, 1996; Martin, Tesser, & McIntosh, 1993; Nolen-Hoeksema et al., 2008; Smith & Alloy, 2009).”
Underlying Structure of Ruminative Thinking: Factor Analysis of the Ruminative Thought Style Questionnaire (2013, background): “This conclusion and the results of the confirmatory factor analysis on a unitary model are inconsistent with Brinker and Dozois’ (2009) findings, but support contemporary conceptualisations of rumination as multidimensional and multifaceted (e.g. Smith and Alloy 2009).”
The Brief State Rumination Inventory (BSRI): Validation and Psychometric Evaluation (2018, background): “Ruminative thinking contributes to the development or maintenance of various forms of psychopathology (NolenHoeksema and Watkins 2011; Smith and Alloy 2009).”
A resources perspective on when and how proactive work behaviour leads to employee withdrawal (2019, background): “Different forms of workrelated rumination have been discussed in the literature (e.g., affective, problem-solving; negative vs. positive) (Smith & Alloy, 2009).”
Emotion regulation as a transdiagnostic treatment construct across anxiety, depression, substance, eating and borderline personality disorders: A systematic review. (2017, background): “This is best highlighted by the construct of rumination, whose function is under-investigated (Smith & Alloy, 2009).”
Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness (2012, background): “” The f usion of self and negative thoughts along with rumination has been shown to play a crit ical role in exacerbating negative af f ect, maintaining or heightening anxiety, and increasing cognitive vulnerability to psychopathology (Smith and Alloy, 2009).”
There Are Plenty of Fish in the Sea: The Effects of Choice Overload and Reversibility on Online Daters’ Satisfaction With Selected Partners (2017, background): “Finally, rumination, or intrusive thoughts caused by negative or stressful life situations, also unfolds over time; in fact, it has been shown to affect mental wellbeing several months after the distressing episode took place (see Smith & Alloy, 2009, for a review).”