Ruminative response style, a tendency to dwell on sad mood and thoughts (Nolen-Hoeksema 1991), is correlated with concurrent depressive symptoms and predicts future symptoms as well as increases in symptoms over time (Rood et al. 2009). Also, one study reported that ruminative response style prospectively predicts onset of MDD (Nolen-Hoeksema 2000). The trait has also been linked to anxiety disorders, but the association with depression is appreciably stronger (Cox et al. 2001, Nolen-Hoeksema et al. 2008).
