Relationship Between Positive and Negative Affect and Depression: The Mediating Role of Rumination

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between positive affect, negative affect, rumination and depression, and to explore the mediating role of rumination between positive and negative affect and depression.  Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 249 students, selected by convenience sampling method. All the participants completed positive and negative affect schedule, The Ruminative Response Scale and Beck depression inventory. Statistical analysis was done using the R 3.4.2 software. Results: Positive affect exhibited a significant negative relationship with rumination and depression. Also, there was a significant positive relationship between negative affect and rumination and depression. In addition, results showed that rumination partially mediated the relationship of positive and negative affect with depression.  Conclusion: Considering the results, it can be concluded that rumination, directly and indirectly, mediates between positive and negative affect and depression, and can predict depression. Based on the increasing positive affect and reducing negative affect, therapeutic interventions can be provided that would decrease rumination, and thereby prevent or control depression