Friends’ discussions of interpersonal and noninterpersonal problems during early and middle adolescence

Associations with co-rumination

Bibliographic Data

ID9795243
AuthorsAmanda J Rose (0000-0001-8681-6155, University of Missouri, corresponding author), Rhiannon L Smith (University of Connecticut), Rebecca A Schwartz‐Mette (0000-0002-6708-0389, University of Maine), Gary C Glick (0000-0001-7265-7421, Marist College)
Year2022
Volume58
Issue12
Pages2350-2357
Publication date2022-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueDevelopmental Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0012-1649 • E-ISSN: 1939-0599
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (APA) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1037/dev0001445
OpenAlexW4294126887
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited11

Friendships are important sources of support during adolescence. However, a growing literature indicates some adolescents co-ruminate, or talk with friends about problems in a way that is excessive, speculative, and negatively focused, which confers risk for internalizing problems. Still, previous research had not examined the types of problems co-ruminators discuss. Using self-reported co-rumination and observations of friends’ conversation about problems, the present study of early and middle adolescents addressed this gap. Participants (N = 628) were approximately half female (52%of the sample) and primarly European American and African American (63% and 29% of the sample respectively). Adolescents who reported greater co-rumination spent more time discussing interpersonal problems with friends, including problems with families, peers, and romantic interests. Interpersonal problems may lend themselves to co-rumination because they can be ambiguous, multifaceted, and difficult to resolve. In contrast, co-rumination was not related spending more time discussing non-interpersonal problems. In addition, middle adolescents were observed to spend more time than early adolescents discussing problems related to developmentally salient tasks (e.g., romantic relationships, academics), and girls spent more time than boys discussing interpersonal problems. Taken together, the findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of a co-rumination. Moreover, the study has applied implications in that findings suggest that adolescents experiencing interpersonal problems may be elevated risk of co-ruminating. In addition to steering these adolescents away from co-rumination, fostering better problem-solving skills for interpersonal problems may lead to the resolution of these problems before they become topics of co-rumination

Cognition · Developmental psychology · Interpersonal communication · Interpersonal relationship · Rumination · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Psychological and Temporal Perspectives Research · Psychology · Social Psychology · Youth Substance Use and School Attendance