Rest-related dynamics of risk and protective factors for depression: A behavioral study

Resting state provides an important condition to study depressogenic cognition because neuropsychological studies have indicated that rest is associated with heightened self-related processing. We examined relationships between rest-related internal focus, cognitive reactivity (vs. mindfulness), rumination, and negative mood outside the functional magnetic resonance imaging scanner in an undergraduate sample (N = 80). We tested a theory-based effect by which, in the presence of cognitive risk (vs. protective) factors, internal focus lowers mood via ruminative self-focus. Such an effect was detected in individuals with high cognitive reactivity, whereas brooding showed only an incremental effect. However, this dynamic was not significant in individuals with low cognitive reactivity, despite the level of brooding, or high mindfulness. These results provide an important window on risk for depressogenic thought during resting state. © The Author(s) 2013.