RESEARCH PAPER
I can't stop thinking about it: The mediating role of rumination in the relationship between humiliation and happiness
1
Department of Psychology, University SWPS in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
2
Institute of Psychology, University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
These authors had equal contribution to this work
Submission date: 2025-01-13
Final revision date: 2026-02-04
Acceptance date: 2026-03-22
Online publication date: 2026-06-22
Publication date: 2026-06-26
Corresponding author
Aleksandra Żenda
Institute of Psychology, University of Silesia in Katowice. Grażyńskiego 53, 40-126 Katowice, Poland
Institute of Psychology, University of Silesia in Katowice. Grażyńskiego 53, 40-126 Katowice, Poland
Current Issues in Personality Psychology 2026;14(2):107-115
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background:
This study explored the relationship between humiliation, rumination and happiness. Humiliation is a very difficult and intense emotion that can be ruminated upon by an individual, with a consequent reduction in well-being. The introduction highlights the importance of dimensions of cognitive functioning and sets the stage to explore the consequences of humiliation for overall happiness.
Participants and procedure:
A total of 320 participants from Poland took part in an online survey via Qualtrics, providing questionnaire data on happiness (Oxford Happiness Questionnaire; OHQ), rumination (Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire; PTQ) and humiliation (the Humiliation Inventory; HI).
Results:
The results revealed negative correlations between humiliation and happiness, with fear of humiliation slightly outweighing past experiences. Additionally, rumination correlated negatively with happiness, particularly with the perceived unproductiveness of rumination and the difficulty of disengaging. The study showed that rumination partially mediates the humiliation-happiness relationship.
Conclusions:
The results suggest that feelings of humiliation may have a devastating effect on stated happiness through rumination about difficult experiences and fear of future humiliation. Knowledge of the role of rumination and humiliation in perceived happiness may help in diagnosis and treatment, especially of anxiety and affective disorders.
This study explored the relationship between humiliation, rumination and happiness. Humiliation is a very difficult and intense emotion that can be ruminated upon by an individual, with a consequent reduction in well-being. The introduction highlights the importance of dimensions of cognitive functioning and sets the stage to explore the consequences of humiliation for overall happiness.
Participants and procedure:
A total of 320 participants from Poland took part in an online survey via Qualtrics, providing questionnaire data on happiness (Oxford Happiness Questionnaire; OHQ), rumination (Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire; PTQ) and humiliation (the Humiliation Inventory; HI).
Results:
The results revealed negative correlations between humiliation and happiness, with fear of humiliation slightly outweighing past experiences. Additionally, rumination correlated negatively with happiness, particularly with the perceived unproductiveness of rumination and the difficulty of disengaging. The study showed that rumination partially mediates the humiliation-happiness relationship.
Conclusions:
The results suggest that feelings of humiliation may have a devastating effect on stated happiness through rumination about difficult experiences and fear of future humiliation. Knowledge of the role of rumination and humiliation in perceived happiness may help in diagnosis and treatment, especially of anxiety and affective disorders.
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