Rumination and depressive symptoms: Evidence for the moderating role of hope

The present study examines the effects of rumination and hope on depressive symptoms. It was hypothesized that hope would moderate the relationship between rumination and depressive symptoms, given that greater goal-directed activity in the face of obstacles may elicit beneficial aspects of rumination. Three hundred ninety-six undergraduate students completed measures of rumination, hope, and depressive symptoms. Main effects were found for both rumination and hope, and a two-way interaction between rumination and hope was found as hypothesized, indicating that high hope served as a buffer against the depressive effects of rumination. The results were significant for both the brooding and reflection subtypes of rumination, suggesting that hope may serve as an important framework for understanding the adaptive value of rumination.