Jamin, Rémy (2025) The Differential Effects of Construal Level and Meaning-Making on Depression and Rumination After Recalling a Failure-Related Memory. Master thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
Depression remains a common psychopathology afflicting 5-6% of the global population (World Health Organization, 2023). An underlying process for the onset and maintenance of depression is rumination (Just & Alloy, 1997; Nolen-Hoeksema, 1991). Literature suggests that concrete thinking, which involves contextual details, is more adaptive in reducing rumination and depressive symptoms than abstract thinking, which involves considering implications of certain events. However, recent studies show the potential benefits of meaning-making - which involves abstract processing. The current study therefore compared the three thinking styles. The hypothesis states meaning-making and concrete processing would show less rumination and depression more than abstract processing. A sample of 158 participants, after recalling a failure-related memory, was randomly assigned to one of three writing tasks coherent with a thinking style (abstract, concrete, or meaning-making). Levels of depression and rumination were assessed before and after the intervention. ANCOVA analyses showed that abstract and concrete processing did not differ significantly in any of the analyses. However, three ANCOVA’s showed significant positive results for meaning-making in contrast to one or both other conditions in the rumination and depression outcomes. The results suggest that meaning-making might be the most adaptive mode in dealing with negative events.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Ostafin, B.D. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | Clinical Psychology (CP) [Master Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 06 Aug 2025 14:03 |
| Last Modified: | 06 Aug 2025 14:03 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/5826 |
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