Ruminative Responses Scale (RRS-22)
Psychology: Mental HealthReliability: alpha 0.893 sample items
About this scale
A 22-item measure of ruminative response style — repetitive, passive thinking about depressive symptoms and their causes/consequences. Predicts depression onset and chronicity.
Sample item(s)
“Think about how alone you feel”
“Think 'Why do I always react this way?'”
“Think about a recent situation, wishing it had gone better”
Reliability
Reported internal consistency: alpha 0.89. As a rule of thumb, Cronbach’s α ≥ .70 is considered acceptable, ≥ .80 good, and ≥ .90 excellent for established measures.
Notes
Treynor et al. (2003) developed brooding and reflection subscales.
Source & citation
Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Morrow, J. (1991): A prospective study of depression and posttraumatic stress symptoms after a natural disaster: The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 61, No. 1, pp. 115–121.
Source. Scale details are summarised from the publication cited above. Always consult the original source for the full item set, scoring, and permission to use.
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