Publication Date

Summer 2024

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Psychology

Advisor

Valerie Carr; Evan Palmer; Matthew Capriotti

Keywords

depression; emotionally valenced working memory; n-back; rumination; young adults

Abstract

Working memory is limited in capacity and easily disrupted such that mood states and competing cognitive processes can impair performance. Rumination is highly associated with depression that may contribute to impaired working memory but has not often been studied. The goal of this study was to elucidate the relationship between depression severity, ruminative state, and working memory performance. Participants completed a baseline assessment of depression severity, rumination (trait and state), and working memory then randomly assigned to a rumination or control groups, followed by a second assessment. I hypothesized working memory would be explained by an interaction between depression severity and manipulation group, such that there would be a negative relationship between depression severity and performance, but only in the rumination group. Regression analyses revealed variability in task performance was indeed explained by an interaction between depression severity and group, but results were in opposite direction of my hypothesis: a negative relationship between depression severity and performance, only in the control group. These results suggest that the rumination induction did not negatively impact working memory in individuals with high levels of depression, whereas engaging in the control task did reduce working memory performance.

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