Repetitive Negative Thinking as a Mechanism of Stuttering Anticipation.

Purpose: In the context of stuttering, anticipation refers to the sensation that one may soon stutter. Although anticipation is widely reported, much is still unknown about how the phenomenon develops and how people respond to it as they live their lives. To address these gaps, this study specified the relationship between repetitive negative thinking (RNT), anticipation, and anticipation responses. This study also determined whether individual differences in a person's goal when speaking (i.e., speaking fluently or not stuttering vs. stuttering openly) predicted the different ways people respond to anticipation.

Method: Five hundred and ten stutterers (427 adults who stutter, ages 18-86 years, and 83 adolescents who stutter, ages 10-18 years) answered questions about anticipation, their responses to anticipation, how frequently they engage in RNT, and what their goals when speaking are.

Results: Exploratory factor analysis revealed that responses to anticipation can be described in terms of two factors: avoidance and acceptance. Avoidance responses to anticipation were more common than acceptance in both groups. Adults and adolescents were more likely to experience anticipation and respond with avoidance behaviors if they more frequently engage in RNT or less often have the goal when speaking of openly stuttering. Data also supported and extended evidence that anticipation is commonly experienced in adolescents and adults who stutter.

Discussion: Findings extend the understanding of how anticipation and anticipation responses may develop based on an individuals' engagement with RNT and goals when speaking. The relationship between RNT and anticipation underscores the need for future investigations focusing on preventing the development of negative responses to anticipation via holistic therapy.

Supplemental material: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.28635719.