Rumination and Mental Health in Indonesian Adults: The Mediating Roles of Anxiety and Depression

Isran Kamal; Diyah Woro Dwi Lestari; Rahmawati Wulansari; Ernasiwi Astri Oktavilia; Nisaul Maghfiroh

doi:10.20884/1.mhj.2026.6.1.20334

Isran Kamal Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychology, Jenderal Soedirman University, Purwokerto, Indonesia
Diyah Woro Dwi Lestari Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychology, Jenderal Soedirman University, Purwokerto, Indonesia
Rahmawati Wulansari Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychology, Jenderal Soedirman University, Purwokerto, Indonesia
Ernasiwi Astri Oktavilia Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychology, Jenderal Soedirman University, Purwokerto, Indonesia
Nisaul Maghfiroh Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychology, Jenderal Soedirman University, Purwokerto, Indonesia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.20884/1.mhj.2026.6.1.20334

Abstract

Rumination is one of the many psychological factors that worsen mental health. Based on that, this study aims to analyze the relationship between rumination and anxiety, depression, suicidal tendencies, and overall mental health in individuals aged 18–50 years. Rumination is a repetitive thought pattern that focuses on negative emotions without generating adaptive solutions, potentially worsening psychological conditions. The research method used a quantitative approach with a correlational design. A sample of 129 participants was purposively recruited and completed an online questionnaire consisting of the Ruminative Response Scale (RRS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Suicidal Ideation Scale (SIS), and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Data analysis included Spearman correlation, linear regression, and mediation analysis. The results showed that rumination was significantly positively correlated with depression (ρ = 0.603, p < 0.001), anxiety (ρ = 0.604, p < 0.001), and suicidal ideation (ρ = 0.370, p < 0.001), but not significantly with global mental health (ρ = 0.105, p = 0.236). Mediation analysis showed that depression and anxiety fully mediated the relationship between rumination and mental health. These results indicate that the impact of rumination on psychological well-being occurs primarily through increased affective and cognitive symptoms.