The Interrelation of Experiential Avoidance, Rumination and Depression: Insights from Mediation Analysis and Machine Learning

This study investigates rumination's mediating role between experiential avoidance and depression in university students. A sample of 600 students completed the AAQ-II, RRS, and SDS measures. Significant positive correlations were observed between experiential avoidance, rumination, and depression. Mediation analysis confirmed rumination's significant mediating role with an indirect effect of 0.592 (95% CI: 0.492 - 0.70, p < 0.001). Random forest analysis highlighted symptom-focused rumination as a key predictor of depression. These findings emphasize targeting experiential avoidance and rumination in therapies like ACT and CBT to reduce depressive symptoms. However, the cross-sectional design and self-report measures suggest a need for future longitudinal and objective studies.