Rumination Across Depression, Anxiety, and Eating Disorders in Adults: A Meta-Analytic Review

We examined whether rumination, brooding, and reflection differed between patients with depression, anxiety. and eating disorders and healthy controls. We also examined correlations between psychopathology and rumination, brooding, and reflection. Systematic searches of four electronic databases from July 2008 to December 2021 identified 585 abstracts that were eligible for full text review and 99 were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with healthy controls. rumination was significantly higher in major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), and anorexia nervosa (AN). Brooding was also higher in MDD, GAD, and SAD and reflection was higher in MDD and SAD. Significant medium to large correlations were found between psychopathology and rumination for MDD, GAD. and SAD. Psychopathology was correlated with brooding and reflection in MDD and brooding in SAD. These findings indicate that total rumination is strongly associated with MDD. SAD. GAD, and AN, brooding is strongly associated with MDD. SAD and GAD, and reflection is strongly associated with MDD and SAD.

Automated summary

This study examined the differences in rumination, brooding, and reflection between patients with depression, anxiety, and eating disorders and healthy controls. The study also explored the correlations between psychopathology and these cognitive processes. The findings indicate that patients with major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and anorexia nervosa exhibit higher levels of rumination. Brooding is also elevated in patients with major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder, while reflection is higher in patients with major depressive disorder and social anxiety disorder. There are significant medium to large correlations between psychopathology and rumination in major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Psychopathology is also correlated with brooding and reflection in major depressive disorder and brooding in social anxiety disorder.