Rumination as a cognitive vulnerability factor in perinatal bereavement: evidence from the CARING study

The CARING study investigated the role of rumination (repetitive thinking) in psychological distress among parents following perinatal loss. The research involved 298 parents who experienced the loss of a child within the previous five years. Results showed that higher levels of rumination were significantly associated with more intense grief, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and post-traumatic stress. Depressive rumination demonstrated stronger associations with all examined psychological outcomes compared to angry rumination. Parents exhibiting both forms of rumination experienced the highest levels of grief intensity and psychological distress. Rumination, particularly in its depressive form, appears to function as a transdiagnostic cognitive vulnerability factor in perinatal bereavement. The findings suggest that rumination could be a target for early screening and specialized psychological interventions to reduce long-term psychological burden following perinatal loss.