Heart Rate Response under Induced Stress: A Comparison of Individuals with High and Low Ruminative Tendencies

Authors

Douglas Marchant, Brigham Young University
Dr. Claudia Clayton, Brigham Young University

Keywords

heart rate response, induced stress, ruminative tendencies, mood

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Psychology

Abstract

Rumination can be defined as persistent, recyclic thinking (Rippere, 1977). There are characteristic differences between normal rumination, which is simply recyclic thinking, and depressive rumination, which is characterized by recyclic thoughts focused on one’s depressive symptoms and the ramifications of those symptoms (Nolen-Hoeksema, 1991). Therefore, depressive rumination is narrower in its content than normal rumination. Examples include revisiting private regrets and disappointments, focusing on feelings of loneliness, and dwelling on personal inadequacies (Davis & Nolen-Hoeksema, 2000). The following three examples of depressive rumination are characteristically different in focus than the depressive thoughts given above: “Why am I so sad?”, “Why can’t I concentrate?”, and “Why can’t I cope better?” The first three examples were thoughts describing the individual’s depressive symptoms, whereas these latter three thoughts are focused on the etiology, maintenance, and course of those depressive symptoms (Lyubomirsky & Nolen-Hoeksema, 1993).

Recommended Citation

Marchant, Douglas and Clayton, Dr. Claudia (2013) "Heart Rate Response under Induced Stress: A Comparison of Individuals with High and Low Ruminative Tendencies," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013: Iss. 1, Article 483.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/483