Effects of preoccupation on interpersonal recall: A pilot study

Background: The aim of this pilot study was to examine whether priming preoccupation (rumination) in healthy participants adversely affects the processing of interpersonal information. Methods: Sixty female undergraduates with moderate or marked preoccupation proneness (selected on the basis oftheir high preoccupation on eating, shape, and weight issues) were randomized to receive either a general preoccupation prime, a standardized preoccupation prime, or a control prime. Following the prime, participants watched an 8-min videotape of a family interaction and then were asked free recall questions about the tape. Results: Participants who received the general preoccupation prime scored lower than the other two groups in response to free recall questions regarding emotion-related topics. Conclusions: These findings suggest that when primed by everyday worries and concerns, individuals prone to preoccupation may have their capacity to recall emotion-related interpersonal information compromised. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.