Positive beliefs about the benefits of rumination have been shown to be a proximal factor determining rumination. This study investigated, in a sample of 29 currently depressed patients, whether positive beliefs about rumination parallel known gender differences in rumination and whether these beliefs differ between depressed individuals with and without a history of physical or sexual assault. Depressed women tended to report stronger positive beliefs in the benefits of rumination than men. However, this result was found to be due to differential effects of a history of assault: women with a history of assault showed significantly stronger positive beliefs than women without a history of assault while there were no significant differences in men. Experiences of assault may undermine women's beliefs in coping ability so that rumination is seen as a more compelling option.