Rumination after 65: does its association with depression and gender change with age?

Abstract

Context: It is well documented that, in adults, women are more prone to ruminate than men, and
rumination and depression are robustly correlated. However, very little is known about how these links
evolve as aging. The age-related cognitive and identity evolutions deeply modify the elderly’s overall
functioning, legitimizing this issue.
Method: Sixty-four participants were recruited by seniors’ networks. The participants had to be over 65
years old, without cognitive impairment or chronic pain.
The experiment included the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), to assess the presence and severity
of depression, and the Mini-CERTS, which evaluates the frequency of both analytic and experiential
repetitive thoughts. The Mental Alternation Test (MAT) was used as a preliminary test to help ensure
that participants did not have cognitive impairment.
Participants were contacted over the phone. A structured interview and a MAT test were used to assess
the inclusion criteria. If the participant matched the required profile, the GDS and the mini-CERTS were
administered in random order.
Results: Results show a negative correlation between frequency of constructive repetitive thoughts and
depression (r = -.49; p <.001) and a positive correlation between frequency of rumination and depression
(r = .40; p <.001). No significant difference was shown regarding gender and frequency of ruminations
(p> .05).
Discussion: These results validate the maintenance of the links between repetitive thinking and
depression during aging, but not the difference between men and women. These findings encourage the
use of rumination-focused therapies in the treatment of depression in the elderly.