Getting Out of Rumination: Comparison of Three Brief Interventions in a Sample of Youth

Rumination, passively and repetitively dwelling on and questioning negative feelings in response to distress, is a risk factor
for the development of psychopathology, especially depression. The ruminative process is difficult to stop once it has begun.
The present studies focused on strategies that may help youth disengage from ruminative states. In Study 1, we validated a
technique for inducing distress and measuring state rumination. Twenty-six participants (mean age = 12.21; 62 % girls) underwent
a negative mood induction followed by either a rumination or distraction induction. In Study 2, we examined the utility of
three different brief interventions for stopping the ruminative process. One hundred-two youth (mean age = 11.51; 64 % girls)
underwent a negative mood induction followed by a rumination induction. Following this, participants were randomly assigned
to one of three conditions designed to help them out of the ruminative state (distraction, problem-solving, or mindfulness).
In Study 1, participants in the rumination condition reported significantly higher levels of state rumination compared to
those in the distraction condition. In Study 2, both distraction and mindfulness helped reduced state rumination compared
to problem-solving. Taken together, these data suggest that even a brief period of distraction or mindfulness is helpful in
getting youth out of a ruminative state. Clinical implications might include the potential use of mobile device applications
to help alleviate rumination.