FLEXIBLE COGNITIVE STYLE MODERATES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RUMINATION AND AFFECT

Prospective and longitudinal studies have demonstrated that rumination has a negative effect on mood and depression outcomes. The present study examined whether the type of flexible cognitive style needed to reevaluate maladaptive thoughts and interpretations (i.e. cognitive flexibility) acts as a buffer against the negative relationship between rumination and affect. Participants (N = 100) completed anonymous online surveys containing two measures of cognitive flexibility, including the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale (BCIS; Beck et al., 2008) and the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI; Dennis & Vander Wal, 2010), as well as measures of depressive rumination and trait affect. Multiple regression-based moderation analyses showed that the tendency to be more objective, reflective, and open to feedback moderated the relationship between rumination and positive affect (PA), such that the negative relationship between rumination and PA was attenuated for individuals who were more self-reflective. We discuss the implications of this buffering effect for theories of rumination and research on protective factors, as well as its relevance to psychotherapy. A comparison of the cognitive flexibility questionnaires revealed differences in how flexible reinterpretation is measured and identified selective relationships to positive and negative affect. Based on these findings, we provide recommendations for future research on cognitive styles that promote flexible reinterpretation.M.S. in Psychology, December 201