Developmental Psychology, Vol. 43, No. 4
Three psychologists at the University of Missouri-Columbia conducted this study into the effects of co-ruminating, or excessively discussing problems, by youth from middle childhood through mid-adolescence. For girls, co-rumination predicted increased depressive and anxiety symptoms and increased friendship quality over time – which, in turn, contributed to greater co-rumination and a corresponding increase in depressive and anxiety symptoms.
For boys, however, co-rumination predicted only increasing friendship quality and not increasing depression and anxiety. The implication is that some girls at risk of depression may go undetected because they have seemingly supportive friendships. Free. 13 pages. (202) 336-5707, http://www.apa.org/journals/releases/dev4341019.pdf.
