Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Rumination, Inhibition and Stress: The Construction of A New Scale for Assessing Emotional Style

  • Published:
Current Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Emotional rumination and inhibition were identified in the Emotion Control Questionnaire (ECQ—Roger and Nesshoever 1987; Roger and Najarian 1989) as two relatively independent dimensions of emotional style, and the two measures have subsequently been shown to be important moderator variables in a range of health and forensic settings. Two other dimensions that emerged in the ECQ, labelled aggression control and benign control, have been shown to form part of the extraversion constellation, and the present paper describes the construction and validation of a new scale focusing exclusively on rumination and inhibition. Revised and expanded item pools for the scales were subjected to exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, which endorsed the two-factor structure. The new scales were validated concurrently against related scales in different samples, and were shown to be systematically related to two independent indices of health status.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alhija, F. N., & Wisenbaker, J. (2006). A Monte Carlo study investigating the impact of item parceling strategies on parameter estimates and their standard errors in CFA. Structural Equation Modelling, 13, 204–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beck, A. T., Steer, R. A., & Brown, G. (1996). Beck depression inventory (2nd ed.). San Antonio: The Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bentler, P. M. (1990). Comparative fit indexes in structural models. Psychological Bulletin, 107, 238–246.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bentler, P. M. (1995). EQS structural equations program manual. Encino: Multivariate Software, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bentler, P. M., & Bonett, D. G. (1980). Significance tests and goodness of fit in the analysis of covariance structures. Psychological Bulletin, 88, 588–606.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bentler, P. M., & Chou, C. P. (1987). Practical issues in structural equation modeling. Sociological Methods and Research, 16, 78–117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Browne, M. W., & Cudeck, R. (1993). Alternative ways of assessing model fit. In K. A. Bollen & J. S. Long (Eds.), Testing structural equation models (pp. 136–162). Newbury Park: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chou, C.-P., & Bentler, P. M. (1995). Estimation and tests in structural equation modeling. In R. H. Hoyle (Ed.), Structural equation modeling: Concepts, issues, and applications (pp. 37–55). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S., & Hoberman, G. S. (1983). Positive events and social support as buffers of life change stress. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 13, 99–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conway, M., Csank, P. A. R., Holm, S. L., & Blake, C. K. (2000). On individual differences in rumination on sadness. Journal of Personality Assessment, 75, 404–425.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Denollet, J., Sys, S. U., Stroobant, N., Rombouts, H., Gillebert, T. C., & Brutsaert, D. L. (1996). Personality as independent predictor of long-term mortality in patients with coronary heart disease. Lancet, 347, 417–421.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Endler, N. S., & Parker, D. A. (1990). Multidimensional assessment of coping: a critical evaluation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58, 844–854.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Floyd, F. B., & Widaman, K. F. (1995). Factor analysis in the development and refinement of clinical assessment instruments. Psychological Assessment, 7, 286–299.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forbes, A., & Roger, D. (1999). Stress, social support and fear of disclosure. British Journal of Health Psychology, 4, 165–179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guarino, L. (2003). Emotional sensitivity: A new measure of emotional lability and its moderating role in the stress-illness relationship. Unpublished D.Phil. dissertation, University of York.

  • Guarino, L., Roger, D., & Olason, D. (2007). Reconstructing N: a new approach to measuring emotional sensitivity. Current Psychology, 26, 37–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, P. W., Pepper, C. M., & Maack, D. J. (2008). The relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and depressive symptoms: the mediating role of rumination. Personality and Individual Differences, 44, 150–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoyle, R. H., & Panter, A. T. (1995). Writing about structural equation models in structural equation modeling. In R. H. Hoyle (Ed.), Structural equation modeling: Concepts, issues, and applications (pp. 158–176). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu, L.-T., & Bentler, P. (1995). Evaluating model fit. In R. H. Hoyle (Ed.), Structural equation modeling. Concepts, issues, and applications (pp. 76–99). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jöreskog, K. G., & Sörbom, D. (1989). Lisrel 7: A guide to the programme and application. Chicago: SPSS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaiser, J., Hinton, J. W., Krohne, H. W., Stewart, R., & Burton, R. (1995). Coping dispositions and physiological recovery from a speech preparation stressor. Personality and Individual Differences, 19, 1–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kishton, B. M., & Widaman, K. F. (1994). Unidimensional versus domain representative parcelling of questionnaire items: An empirical example. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 54, 757–765.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lyne, K., & Roger, D. (2000). A psychometric re-assessment of the COPE questionnaire. Personality and Individual Differences, 29, 321–335.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDougall, C., Venables, P., & Roger, D. (1991). Aggression, anger control and emotion control. Personality and Individual Differences, 12, 625–629.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meadows, M. (1989). Personality, stress and health. Unpublished D.Phil. dissertation, University of York.

  • Nieland, M., & Roger, D. (1993). Emotion control and analgesia in labour. Personality and Individual Differences, 14, 841–844.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Morrow, J. (1991). A prospective study of depression and distress following a natural disaster: the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, 105–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nolen-Hoeksema, S., Parker, L. E., & Larson, J. (1994). Ruminative coping with depressed mood following loss. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67, 92–104.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Papageorgiou, C., & Wells, A. (1999). Process and meta cogniyive dimensions of depressive and anxious thoughts and relationships with emotional intensity. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 6, 152–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pennebaker, J. W., Colder, M., & Sharp, L. K. (1990). Accelerating the coping process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58, 528–537.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Petrie, K. J., Booth, R., & Pennebaker, J. W. (1998). The immunological effects of thought suppression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75, 1264–1272.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Raykov, T. (1998). Coefficient alpha and composite reliability with interrelated nonhomogeneous items. Applied Psychological Measurement, 22, 375–385.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roger, D. (1995). Emotion control, coping strategies and adaptive behavior. Stress and Emotion, 15, 255–264.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roger, D. (1996). The role of cognitive rumination, copying styles and self-esteem in moderating adaptational responses to stress. Paper presented at the 8th European Conference on Personality, University of Ghent, July.

  • Roger, D. (1999). The role of cognitive rumination, coping styles and self-esteem in moderating adaptational responses to stress. In I. J. Deary, F. de Fruyt, & F. Ostendorf (Eds.), Personality psychology in Europe, Volume 7 (pp. 351–364). Tilburg: Tilburg University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roger, D., & Nesshoever, W. (1987). The construction and preliminary validation of a scale for measuring emotional control. Personality and Individual Differences, 8, 527–534.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roger, D., & Jamieson, J. (1988). Individual differences in delayed heart-rate recovery following stress: the role of extraversion, neuroticism and emotional control. Personality and Individual Differences, 9, 721–726.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roger, D., & Najarian, B. (1989). The construction and validation of a new scale for measuring emotional control. Personality and Individual Differences, 10, 845–853.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roger, D., & Masters, R. (1997). The development and evaluation of an emotion control training programme for sex offenders. Legal and Criminological Psychology, 2, 51–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roger, D., & Najarian, B. (1998). The relationship between emotional rumination and cortisol secretion under stress. Personality and Individual Differences, 24, 531–538.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roger, D., Jarvis, G., & Najarian, B. (1993). Detachment and coping: the construction and validation of a new scale for measuring coping strategies. Personality and Individual Differences, 15, 619–626.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roger, D., Najarian, B., & Nash, P. (1996). The interactive effects of self-esteem, cognitive rumination and coping styles in moderating the relationship between stress and illness. Paper presented at the British Psychological Society Health Psychology Annual Conference, University of York, July.

  • Siegle, G. J., Moore, P. M., & Thase, M. E. (2004). Rumination: one construct, many features in healthy individuals, depressed individuals, and individuals with Lupus. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 28, 645–668.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shevlin, M. E., Miles, J. N. V., & Lewis, C. A. (2000). Comments on ‘Confirmatory factor analysis of the Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale’. Personality and Individual Differences, 28, 187–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomsen, D. K., Mehlsen, M. Y., Hokland, M., Viidik, A., Olesen, F., Avlund, K., et al. (2004). Negative thoughts and health: associations among rumination, immunity, and health care utilization in a young and elderly sample. Psychosomatic Medicine, 66, 363–371.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thomsen, D. K., Mehlsen, M. Y., Olesen, F., Hokland, M., Viidik, A., Avlund, K., et al. (2004). Is there an association between rumination and self-reported physical health? Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 27, 215–231.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Treynor, W., Gonzalez, R., & Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2003). Rumination reconsidered: a psychometric analysis. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 27, 247–259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Derek Roger

  2. Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, England, UK

    Derek Roger

  3. Department of Behavioural Science and Technology, Simon Bolivar University, Caracas, Venezuela

    Leticia Guarino de Scremin

  4. Department of Psychology, University of Westminster, London, England, UK

    Jo Borril

  5. National Health Service, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

    Angela Forbes

Authors
  1. Derek Roger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Leticia Guarino de Scremin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jo Borril
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Angela Forbes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Derek Roger.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Roger, D., de Scremin, L.G., Borril, J. et al. Rumination, Inhibition and Stress: The Construction of A New Scale for Assessing Emotional Style. Curr Psychol 30, 234–244 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-011-9117-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-011-9117-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation