THE ESSENTIAL
- A study from the University of Hong Kong shows that mental ruminations, these repetitive negative thoughts about one’s own loneliness, strengthens the link between loneliness and depression.
- By analyzing 900 adults during Covid-19 lockdowns, researchers identified that constantly thinking about loneliness amplifies depressive symptoms.
- The team recommends interventions targeting these ruminations, such as cognitive-behavioral therapies or mindfulness, to break this vicious cycle.
Loneliness is a well-known contributor to depression, but why do some people feel more vulnerable than others? A new study carried out by the University of Hong Kong (HKU) sheds some light on the question: mental ruminations, these repeated negative thoughts about one’s own loneliness, play a key role, perhaps more important than loneliness itself. even.
A complex relationship: loneliness, rumination and depression
According to the team led by Professor Tatia MC Lee, specialist in psychological sciences and neuropsychology, mental rumination acts as a bridge between loneliness and depression. Their study, published in the journal Nature Mental Healthsuggests that the more a person experiences a discrepancy between their desired and actual social relationships, the more likely they are to ruminate on these thoughts, thereby increasing the severity of depressive symptoms.
In order to validate their hypothesis, the researchers conducted a network analysis (family, friends, colleagues, etc.) on a sample of 900 adults in China, collected between 2021 and 2023 during the strict confinements linked to Covid-19. This innovative approach allowed them to understand how the individual elements of loneliness and rumination interact to fuel depression.
The results revealed that the link between loneliness and depression is modulated by a particular type of repetitive thoughts: “Constantly thinking about how alone we are”, according to a press release. This type of rumination amplifies the feeling of isolation and reinforces a vicious cycle that leads to depression. Thus, targeting these thoughts could be an effective strategy for reducing the incidence of depression.
-Defuse ruminations to alleviate depression
“Our findings suggest that therapeutic interventions for depression should focus on reducing repetitive thoughts associated with loneliness”assures Professor Lee. By defusing these ruminations, we could also mitigate the negative effects of loneliness.
Cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBT) or mindfulness could play an important role in this goal. By teaching individuals to recognize and interrupt negative thought cycles, it becomes possible to break the loneliness-rumination-depression network and improve their well-being.
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