Relationships among repetitive negative thinking types, change in employment, and mental health

Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) describes different, but related, maladaptive thought processes focused on stress or the emotional responses to stress. When activated by stress, RNT maintains and intensifies the emotional response leading to mental health problems. We examined whether four types of RNT (anger rumination, brooding, reflection, worry) are sub-constructs of one RNT or if they are related but distinct types of RNT. We also assessed their concurrent and longitudinal relationships with COVID-related changes in employment and three outcomes: aggression, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms. Participants in our corss-sectional online study were 1,627 individuals (18–87 years, 80.1% White, 86.3% non-Hispanic, 70.8% women). Participants in our 3-wave longitudinal online study were 475 individuals (19–80 years, 92.2% White, 97.5% non-Hispanic, 82.3% women). Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses and Structural Equation Modeling demonstrated that the types of RNT are correlated but distinct. Brooding was positively associated with and mediated the effect of changes in employment on all three mental health problems. Worry was positively associated with and mediated the effect of changes in employment on depressive and anxiety symptoms but not aggression. Anger rumination was positively associated with and mediated the effect of changes in employment on aggression only. Reflection was unrelated to changes in employment and all three mental health problems. Clinicians should consider the transdiagnostic relevance of brooding with clients experiencing anger, anxiety, and/or depression.