Neuroticism and Ruminative Response Style as Predictors of Change in Depressive Symptomatology

Several investigations have demonstrated thatneuroticism and ruminative response style are associatedwith increased risk for depression. The current studyexamined the effects of neuroticism and ruminative response style on changes in depressivesymptoms over an 8- to 10-week interval. Analysesindicated that the effects of neuroticism and ruminativeresponse style were moderated by initial level ofdepressive symptomatology. Specifically, neuroticism andruminative response style predicted changes indepressive symptoms more strongly in individuals whowere initially higher in levels of depression than they did in those with lower initial levels ofdepressive symptoms. These data were consistent with apath model in which ruminative response style mediatedthe effect of neuroticism on depression.

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