The relationship between rumination, avoidance and depression in a non-clinical sample

Recent commentaries have proposed conceptualizations of rumination in terms of' both cognitive and behavioral avoidance. This study examined the relationship between rumination, avoidance and depression using a newly developed self-report measure of avoidance in depression, the Cognitive-Bchavioral Avoidance Scale (CBAS) [Ottelibreit, N.D., & Dobson, K.S. (2004). Avoidance and depression: The construction of the cognitive-behavioral avoidance scale. Behariour Research and Therapy, 42, 293-313]. A non-clinical sample (N = 104) of undergraduate Students completed self-report treasures of depression, anxiety, rumination and avoidance. Rumination, avoidance and depression were all significantly correlated. Rumination and behavioral avoidance remained intercorrelated when anxiety was controlled, confirming an association that is independent of anxiety. By contrast, the relationship between cognitive avoidance and rumination disappeared when anxiety was partialled out. Notably, avoidance predicted unique variance in depression scores, over and above anxiety and Rumination. Consistent with the proposal of Ottenbreit and Dobson [Avoidance and depression: The construction of the cognitive-bchavioral avoidance scale. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 42, 293-313]. Our findings support the value Of clinicians and psychopatliologists giving consideration to avoidance in their conceptualizations of depression. (c) 2000 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.