Variation in the physiological costs and benefits of rumination and distraction: The moderating effect of habitual thought suppression

Whereas traditional theories of emotion regulation have differentiated between categorically adaptive and maladaptive strategies, contemporary research has emphasized the role of context in strategy efficacy. The current study sought to determine whether the effects of rumination, which is typically considered to be a maladaptive strategy, and the effects of distraction, which is typically considered to be an adaptive strategy, are moderated by trait thought suppression. In a sample of 50 participants, habitual thought suppression was measured and participants underwent either a rumination induction or distraction induction while respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), a physiological index of flexible response to stimuli, was monitored. Results demonstrated that among trait thought suppressors, induced rumination resulted in increased RSA, suggesting enhanced regulatory flexibility, while induced distraction resulted in decreased RSA, suggesting less flexibility. Among individuals who are not prone to thought suppression, the converse was observed. These results provide support for the context-dependent theory of emotion regulation, and indicate that the efficacy of rumination and distraction may be moderated by proneness to thought suppression.