Examining the relationship between repetitive negative thinking and executive functions in individuals with emotional disorders
Researcher Bulletin of Medical Sciences,
Vol. 30 No. 1 (2025),
20 Khordad 2026
,
Page e7
Abstract
Background and Aim: Emotional disorders are characterized by disturbances in mood and affect, often accompanied by cognitive deficits. Among the cognitive factors, repetitive negative thinking and executive functions have garnered attention due to their roles in emotional regulation and cognitive processing. Repetitive negative thinking involves persistent negative rumination and worry, while executive functions include inhibition, set-shifting, and updating. This study tries to investigate the relationship between repetitive negative thinking and executive functions in emotional disorders in a trans diagnostic way and to determine the mediating role of general distress in this relationship.
Materials and Methods: 107 individuals with emotional disorders were selected by purposeful sampling. All participants completed the Repetitive Thinking Questionnaire, Anxiety, Depression, Stress Scale, Stroop Color-Word Tests, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and N-Back task. Correlation and regression analysis were used to analyze the data.
Results: The findings showed that only updating among the executive functions is related to repetitive negative thinking. Also, the present study showed that general distress cannot mediate the relationship between updating and repetitive negative thinking.
Conclusion: According to our knowledge, the present study is the first one that investigated the relationship between repetitive negative thinking and executive functions in emotional disorders in a transdiagnostic way. The findings of this research contribute to a deeper understanding of the cognitive basis of emotional disorders and emphasize the importance of addressing executive function deficiencies in order to reduce repetitive negative thinking and its effects on affective well-being.
- Repetitive negative thinking;, Executive functions;, Emotional disorders
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