The Psychology of Gender 4th Edition

504 Chapter 13

Rumination. A large program of research

on sex differences in depression has focused on

two specific kinds of coping strategies: rumina-

tion and distraction. Susan Nolen-Hoeksema

(1987, 1994) has argued that women are more

depressed than men because women respond

to environmental stressors or to negative affect

by talking about and trying to figure out their

feelings—that is, rumination, whereas men re-

spond by playing sports and by avoiding thoughts

about the reasons for their feelings, that is, dis-

traction. Nolen-Hoeksema and her colleagues

argue (Nolen-Hoeksema, Wisco, & Lyubomir-

sky, 2008) that rumination increases depression

in three ways, each of which is depicted in

Figure 13.7. First, rumination impairs problem-

solving, which inhibits instrumental behavior

that could reduce depression. For example, if

you are dwelling on a poor grade from a first

exam, your distress may keep you from study-

ing for the next exam, which ultimately will

lead to another failure experience and further

distraction, consistent with “flight,” and it is

clear that men are more physically aggressive

than women, consistent with “fight.”

Taylor and colleagues (2000) argue

that women’s response to stress may have

biological underpinnings. In particular, they

emphasize the role of oxytocin, which may

inhibit the flight response and encourage the

tending to relationships in women. As dis-

cussed earlier in the chapter, oxytocin pro-

motes affiliative behavior and may calm us

down during times of stress.

Although this theory explains why

women may cope differently with stress than

men, it does not explain why women are more

depressed than men. The tend and befriend

idea, however, does suggest women will be

more involved in relationships than men. To

the extent that relationships are a source of

stress (an idea expanded on later in this chap-

ter), women’s tendency to tend and befriend

may have some negative outcomes.

Interferes with

problem-solving

efforts

Access to

negative

thoughts

Lack social support

Rumination

style of

coping

Negative

affect or

depression

FIGURE 13.7 Model of Rumination and Depression. A ruminative

style of coping leads to interference with problem-solving efforts, in-

creased access to negative thoughts, and a lack of social support—all of

which increase negative affect or depressive symptoms. Negative affect or

depressive symptoms also lead to more ruminative coping.

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