Health Consequences of Depressive Cognition

We have found that a depressive cognitive style, specifically the tendency to ruminate, is associated not only with depression, but also with alcohol abuse, disorders and self-injury. We are currently exploring the mechanisms by which rumination contributes to these and other negative health outcomes, and how rumination may mediate the comorbidity between depression and health behaviors or problems. We are also interested in the role of rumination in emotions and moods other than sadness or depression, including anxiety and anger.

Representative publications:

Hilt, L.M., Cha, C., & Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2008). Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Young Adolescent Girls: Moderators of the Distress-Function Relationship. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76, 63-71.

Miranda, R., & Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2007). Brooding and reflection: Rumination predicts suicidality at one-year follow up in a community sample. Behavior Research and Therapy, 45, 3088-3095.

Nolen-Hoeksema, S., Stice, E., Wade, E., & Bohon, C. (2007). Reciprocal relations between rumination and bulimic, substance abuse, and depressive symptoms in adolescent females. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 116, 198-207.

Nolen-Hoeksema, S., Wong, M.M., Fitzgerald, H.F., & Zucker, R.A. (2006). Depressive symptoms over time in women partners of men with and without alcohol problems. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 115, 601-609.

Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Hilt, L. (2006.) Possible contributors to the gender differences in alcohol use. Journal of General Psychology, 133, 357-374.

Nolen-Hoeksema, S., Stice, E., Wade, E., & Bohon, C. (2005). Reciprocal relations between rumination and symptoms of alcohol abuse, bulimia, and depression in adolescent females. Manuscript under review.

Grayson, C.E., & Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2005). Motives to drink as mediators between childhood sexual assault and alcohol problems in adult women. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 18, 137-145.

Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2004). Gender differences in risk factors and consequences for alcohol use and problems. Clinical Psychology Review, 24, 981-1010.

Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Harrell, Z.A. (2002). Rumination, depression, and alcohol use: Tests of gender differences. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International Quarterly (Special Issue on Rumination), 16, 391-404.

Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2000). The role of rumination in depressive disorders and mixed anxiety/depressive symptoms. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 109, 504-511.

Rusting,C., & Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (1998). Regulating responses to anger:Effects of rumination and distraction on angry mood. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 790-803.