Janson-Schmitt J, Haessner J, Moeller R, Rohleder N (2026)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2026
Pages Range: 322-333
DOI: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000001458
Objective: – Rumination—the repetitive negative thinking about stressful events—impairs biological stress system activity. However, its impact on the habituation of stress responses, particularly of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, remains understudied. This study examined how post-event rumination affects the habituation of biological responses to repeated stress. Methods: – In this randomized experimental study, 47 participants were assigned to a rumination or control condition and exposed to two consecutive stress tasks. After the first stress exposure, the rumination group engaged in guided post-event rumination, while the control group reflected on a neutral everyday topic. Biological markers of HPA axis (cortisol) and SNS activity (salivary alpha-amylase, sAA), as well as psychological variables (positive and negative affect, state rumination), were assessed before and after each stressor. Results: – Compared with the control group, participants in the rumination condition showed reduced habituation of HPA axis activity (t (45)=−2.01, p=.025) and increased SNS activation over time, as indicated by rising sAA levels (t (45)=−2.03, p=.024). No significant group differences were observed in self-reported affect or state rumination. Conclusions: – Post-event rumination impairs biological habituation to repeated stress. These findings suggest that rumination disrupts physiological stress adaptation, which may contribute to prolonged stress responses and increased risk for stress-related health problems. Interventions targeting rumination may support more adaptive stress regulation and promote better health outcomes.
APA:
Janson-Schmitt, J., Haessner, J., Moeller, R., & Rohleder, N. (2026). Experimentally Induced Post-Event Rumination Alters Biological Stress Response Patterns to Repeated Stress. Hypertension, 322-333. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000001458
MLA:
Janson-Schmitt, Johanna, et al. "Experimentally Induced Post-Event Rumination Alters Biological Stress Response Patterns to Repeated Stress." Hypertension (2026): 322-333.
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