COGNITIVE MECHANISMS OF ANXIETY: THE ROLE OF RUMINATION AS A MEDIATOR OF INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS

Abstract

The article examines the cognitive mechanisms underlying anxiety, with a particular emphasis on the role of rumination as a mediator of individual psychological factors. Rumination is conceptualized as a maladaptive cognitive process characterized by repetitive, intrusive, and persistent focus on negative thoughts, emotions, and past experiences. It is considered one of the central mechanisms responsible for the maintenance and intensification of emotional distress and anxiety symptoms. The paper analyzes contemporary theoretical approaches in cognitive and clinical psychology that explain the nature of rumination, its cognitive structure, and its role in the development and persistence of anxiety-related states. Special attention is paid to the relationship between maladaptive cognitive patterns and emotional dysregulation in individuals with elevated anxiety.

The empirical study was conducted on a sample of 40 students of the Municipal Higher Educational Institution “Rivne Medical Academy.” A battery of psychodiagnostic instruments was applied, including standardized questionnaires aimed at assessing anxiety, rumination, perfectionism, emotional regulation difficulties, intolerance of uncertainty, self-esteem, and negative cognitive style. Correlation and mediation analyses were employed to identify statistically significant relationships between the studied variables and to determine the mediating function of rumination within the structure of anxiety.

The findings revealed that rumination significantly mediates the relationship between individual psychological characteristics and anxiety levels. In particular, such factors as maladaptive perfectionism, low tolerance for uncertainty, negative self-perception, and ineffective emotional regulation indirectly contribute to increased anxiety through the mechanism of rumination. The results suggest that cognitive characteristics of personality influence anxiety not directly, but through repetitive negative thinking patterns that reinforce emotional tension and psychological vulnerability. Thus, rumination functions as a central cognitive mechanism in the formation and maintenance of anxious states and may be considered an important target for psychological intervention and prevention programs aimed at reducing anxiety and improving emotional well-being.