Perseverative Negative Thinking, Self-Control, and Executive Functioning in Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis of Competing Models

In this meta-analysis, we synthesized existing research on perseverative negative thinking, self-control, and executive functioning to better define their etiologic role in symptoms of depression and anxiety. After a review of leading models of perseverative negative thinking, self-control, executive functioning, and depressive and anxious symptoms, the relevant associations were meta-analyzed as reported in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. A total of 223 studies met the inclusion criteria, providing 239 independent samples (28 of which provided longitudinal data), <i>N</i> = 50,987. According to both longitudinal and cross-sectional path analyses, self-control deficits predict depression and anxiety symptoms, and these symptoms then predict perseverative negative thinking. In the present research synthesis, we identified evidence that reduced self-control predicts increases in depressive and anxious symptoms, which, in turn, lead to perseverative negative thinking. All in all, this finding suggests an opportunity to treat depression and anxiety through training of self-control and emotional-regulation strategies.