Publication year
2017
Citation Title
Rumination and moderators of multifinality: Predicting internalizing symptoms and alcohol use during adolescence.
Journal Name
Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology
Journal Volume
46
Issue Number
5
Page Numbers
746-753
DOI
10.1080/15374416.2015.1070354
Summary
Rumination is the process of thinking repeatedly about negative emotions and is a risk factor for many mental health concerns. This study examined possible influences in the lives of youth who experience rumination and how they might end up experiencing depression, anxiety, and alcohol use. Rumination during 9th grade was found to be related to internalizing symptoms (i.e., depression and anxiety symptoms) as well as alcohol use in 11th grade based on distinct factors.
Key Findings
Girls reported higher levels of rumination and internalizing symptoms than boys, and overall the participants' scores reflected non-elevated levels of risk for these symptoms.
Rumination in 9th grade was associated with greater internalizing symptoms in 11th grade when youth experienced higher perceived peer rejection, and those with low rumination in 9th grade reported lower internalizing symptoms in 11th grade.
Rumination in 9th grade was associated with greater alcohol use in 11th grade when youth had more friends who used alcohol, and those with fewer friends who used alcohol had less alcohol use.
Implications for Military Professionals
Facilitate support groups for youth in schools and other common settings regarding awareness of rumination and skills to address it
Collaborate with youth development professionals regarding programming to reduce perceived peer rejection, risk for internalizing symptoms, and alcohol use
Implications for Program Leaders
Disseminate information to caregivers and educational professionals regarding the impact of rumination on internalizing symptoms and alcohol use
Provide education to youth regarding rumination and the impacts it can have on internalizing symptoms and alcohol use
Implications for Policy Makers
Promote positive peer relationship building in schools and other settings in which youth spend time
Continue to provide support for programs that aim to reduce youth alcohol use
Methods
Participants were recruited from families participating in a larger longitudinal study who were recruited from medical clinics when mothers were pregnant with the youth.
Participants completed self-reports of rumination, internalizing symptoms, alcohol use, perceived peer rejection, and friends' alcohol use.
The researchers tested whether peer rejection changed the relationship between rumination and internalizing symptoms and whether having friends' alcohol use changed the relationship between rumination and participants' alcohol use.
Participants
Participants were 388 youth (52% female) surveyed when they were in 9th grade (mean age 15.26 years old) and again in 11th grade (mean age 17.22 years old).
Most (96%) of the participants' parents were married and 90% were White; the other races/ethnicities were not described.
Family income averaged $47,750 with a range of $10,000-$200,000.
Limitations
The study was testing a previously developed model but did not test all aspects of the model, which limits the validation of the full model.
All measures were self-report data, which potentially limits their validity.
The sample was a typical-risk sample in terms of symptoms so the conclusions may not be applicable to higher-risk or lower-risk populations.
The sample was mostly White with married parents, therefore conclusions may not be applicable to youth of other races/ethnicities or with different family configurations.
Avenues for Future Research
Repeat the study with different youth populations, such as with more ethnically/racially diverse samples
Use reports from other people besides youth self-report, such as peer reports or parent reports, for some measures to increase validity
Continue to examine the relationships between rumination and the outcomes of alcohol use and internalizing symptoms, but with other potential influencing factors
Focus
Civilian
Target Population
Population Focus
Abstract
Rumination, a perseverative cognitive process that involves repetitively and passively focus- ing on negative emotions, is a transdiagnostic risk factor for the development of psycho- pathology. Although rumination has been linked to various forms of psychopathology including depression, anxiety, and alcohol misuse, little is known about the conditions that lead to multifinality. Here, we test putative moderators (Nolen-Hoeksema & Watkins, 2011) of the association between rumination and subsequent internalizing symptoms and frequency of alcohol use during adolescence. Participants included 388 youth (52% girls; 90% Caucasian) in a longitudinal birth cohort study who completed questionnaires in Grades 9 and 11. Brooding, a maladaptive form of rumination measured in Grade 9, was associated with greater internalizing symptoms in Grade 11 and greater perceived peer rejection in Grade 9 amplified this association. Brooding was also associated with greater frequency of alcohol use among adolescents who reported having more friends who use alcohol. Gender differences were also examined. Findings provide support for some of the predictions regarding moderators of multifinality made by Nolen-Hoeksema and Watkins. Implications of understanding divergent trajectories in the prevention of psychopathology are discussed.
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