The Mediating Role of Rumination in the Relation between Basic Psychological Need Frustration and Depressive Symptoms

Andreas Heissel; Anou Pietrek; Maria Kangas; Jolene Van der Kaap-Deeder; Michael A Rapp

doi:10.3390/jcm12020395

The Mediating Role of Rumination in the Relation between Basic Psychological Need Frustration and Depressive Symptoms

J Clin Med. 2023 Jan 4;12(2):395. doi: 10.3390/jcm12020395.

Authors

Andreas Heissel¹, Anou Pietrek², Maria Kangas³, Jolene Van der Kaap-Deeder⁴, Michael A Rapp¹

Affiliations

¹ Social and Preventive Medicine, Department of Sports and Health Science, Intra-Faculty Unit "Cognitive Sciences", Faculty of Human Science, and Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Research Area Services Research and e-Health, University of Potsdam, 14469 Potsdam, Germany.
² Social and Preventive Medicine, Department of Sports and Health Sciences, Faculty of Human Science, University of Potsdam, 14469 Potsdam, Germany.
³ Centre for Emotional Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
⁴ Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7034 Trondheim, Norway.

Abstract

Research within the framework of Basic Psychological Need Theory (BPNT) finds strong associations between basic need frustration and depressive symptoms. This study examined the role of rumination as an underlying mechanism in the association between basic psychological need frustration and depressive symptoms. A cross-sectional sample of N = 221 adults (55.2% female, mean age = 27.95, range = 18-62, SD = 10.51) completed measures assessing their level of basic psychological need frustration, rumination, and depressive symptoms. Correlational analyses and multiple mediation models were conducted. Brooding partially mediated the relation between need frustration and depressive symptoms. BPNT and Response Styles Theory are compatible and can further advance knowledge about depression vulnerabilities.

Keywords: depressive disorder; emotional regulation; frustration; psychopathology; response styles theory; rumination; self-determination theory.

Grants and funding

A.H. and A.P. are partly funded by a grant at the Potsdam Graduate School, University of Potsdam. A.P. received a final doctoral fellowship for 6 months from the Potsdam Graduate School, University of Potsdam. Funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) – Projectnumber 491466077.