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The influence of trait and state rumination on cardiovascular recovery from a negative emotional stressor

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of trait and state rumination on cardiovascular recovery following a negative emotional stressor. Cardiovascular data was collected from 64 undergraduate women during a 10-min baseline period, 5-min emotional recall stress task, and a 15-min recovery period. Trait rumination was assessed using the Stress Reactive Rumination Scale and state rumination was assessed 5 and 10 min after the stressor, using a thought-report technique. Results indicated that trait and state rumination interacted such that low trait ruminators who were ruminating at 10 min after the termination of the stressor had poorer diastolic blood pressure and high-frequency heart rate variability recovery compared to low trait ruminators who were not ruminating. State rumination was not associated with cardiovascular recovery in high trait ruminators. Results suggest that rumination may play a role in the association between stress and hypertension by prolonging cardiovascular activation following stress.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N 1N4

    Brenda L. Key & Tavis S. Campbell

  2. Department of Exercise Science, Concordia University, 328 AD Building, 7141 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal, QC, Canada, H4B 1R6

    Simon L. Bacon

  3. Department of Medicine, Columbia University/NY-Presbyterian Hospital, 622 West 168th Street, PH9, New York, NY, 10036, USA

    William Gerin

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  1. Brenda L. Key
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  2. Tavis S. Campbell
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  3. Simon L. Bacon
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  4. William Gerin
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Correspondence to Tavis S. Campbell.

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Key, B.L., Campbell, T.S., Bacon, S.L. et al. The influence of trait and state rumination on cardiovascular recovery from a negative emotional stressor. J Behav Med 31, 237–248 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-008-9152-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-008-9152-9

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