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Hammerdahl, Elsa, Hilt, Lori. M., Draheim, Amanda, Fox, Grace, & Breister, Emily. (2025). The role of attention control in a mindfulness-based intervention for rumination: A randomized controlled trial. Mindfulness, 16, 102–118. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-024-02499-z

Why is it hard to stop replaying negative thoughts? Psychology researchers studied whether mindfulness training (controlling distractions and staying focused) can help one gain better control over their attention. 

They surveyed college students who reported high levels of rumination, or repetitive negative thinking. Students either completed a 2-week mindfulness program (via phone app) or, as a control, journaled daily. They completed computerized tasks measuring rumination, mindfulness, and attention control. One task tested whether students could stop themselves from reacting automatically to emotional images.  

Results? Students in both groups reported less rumination over time, although the mindfulness program appeared especially helpful for improving emotional attention control. Students in the mindfulness group became better at controlling automatic emotional reactions and made fewer mistakes on the attention task after the intervention.  

While rumination can make stress, anxiety, and depression feel harder to escape, mindfulness may help by training people to pause before getting pulled into negative thoughts. 

Remember, you may not be able to stop difficult thoughts from appearing, but you can practice changing how you respond to them. Use this mindfulness skill each day to help strengthen your ability to refocus and move forward. 

Written by Dan Peacock B.S.