
Soheil Behdarvandirad
Texas State University, USAPresentation Title:
Self-rumination and its multidimensional role in depression and suicidality
Abstract
Self-rumination, characterized by repetitive focus on personal thoughts and emotions, plays a pivotal role in the development and perpetuation of depression and suicidality. This presentation examines self-rumination through interdisciplinary lenses, emphasizing neurological, psychological, and linguistic perspectives.
Neurologically, self-rumination engages brain regions such as the Default Mode Network (DMN), Medial Prefrontal Cortex (mPFC), and Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC), which are crucial for self-referential processing and emotional regulation. Enhanced activity and atypical connectivity within these regions have been linked to maladaptive ruminative patterns in depression, disrupting cognitive balance and intensifying negative self-focus. Key findings underscore how these neural mechanisms contribute to emotional dysregulation and suicidality.
Psychologically, self-rumination is explored through the self-focus model, which differentiates adaptive reflection from maladaptive brooding. The detrimental effects of brooding on social functioning, happiness, and mental health are highlighted, alongside therapeutic strategies such as mindfulness-based cognitive therapy that aim to mitigate these impacts by fostering structured self-awareness.
From a linguistic perspective, self-rumination is reflected in the increased use of self-focused language, particularly first-person singular pronouns, as identified through natural language processing tools like LIWC. These linguistic markers not only mirror depressive states but also provide valuable insights for early detection and intervention.
This presentation integrates these perspectives to provide a comprehensive understanding of self-rumination’s impact on mental health, offering implications for therapeutic interventions that target its neurological, psychological, and linguistic dimensions.
Biography
Soheil Behdarvandirad is a PhD student in Adult, Professional, and Community Education at Texas State University. With a background in English Language Teaching and Civil Engineering, Soheil brings an interdisciplinary approach to his research. His academic pursuits center on neuropsychology, adult learning, and language sciences, with a focus on the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying depression, neuroticism, and self-rumination. He has co-authored several publications in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters, including contributions to the intersection of psychology, neuroscience, and education. His recent work explores self-rumination from neurological, psychological, and linguistic viewpoints, highlighting its implications for depression and suicidality.