The characteristics of social problem solving and rumination in formerly depressed people were investigated. Based on the results of a self-report measure, the participants were divided into a formerly depressed group that had experienced an episode that met the criteria for major depression ( n =14), and a never-depressed group ( n =92). The formerly depressed group had higher scores on the Rational Problem-Solving subscale of the Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised Short Version and the Brooding and Reflective Pondering subscales of the Ruminative Responses Scale, after controlling for gender and the current depression level. It is possible that these factors increase the vulnerability to depression.