Cognitive inflixibility and problem solving styles among ruminative and nonruminative students

This study attempted to compare cognitive inflexibility and problem solving styles in ruminative and non-ruminative students. This fundamental study was a descriptive investigation from the date collection points of view. The sample was randomly selected from among all the universities in Tehran. 400 students were selected through available sampling. The Response Style Questionnaire and Beck Depression Inventory were the instruments used. Following the initial analysis، 60 subjects were selected and assigned to two subgroups of ruminative and non-ruminative. After 2 weeks، in the phase، the vocabulary subscale of wechsler، Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and Problem Solving Style scale were administered to both groups. Results were analyzed using the statistical analysis of covariance and multivariate analysis of variance. There were significant differences between ruminators and non-ruminators in perseveration error. With the view of the attention to mean differences، ruminators had more perseveration error than non-ruminators. Findings revealed no significant differences between the male and female subjects with regard to perseveration error. Moreover، the interaction between sex and rumination had no significant effect on perseveration error. Rumination and depression seem to be possibly reduced following the treatment of perseveration. Introducing effective techniques to increase the cognitive flexibility and optimizing patient education may propose new perspectives in the management of depression.