Co-rumination between friends: Considering the roles of outcome expectations, relationship provisions, and perceptions of problems.

Abstract

Despite its implications for adjustment, little is known about factors that support co-rumination in friendships. The current multi-method, longitudinal study addressed this question with 554 adolescents (Mage = 14.50; 52% girls; 62% White; 31% Black; 7% Asian American) from the Midwestern United States in 2007-2010. Adolescents were observed talking about problems with a friend and reported on their outcome expectations for problem disclosures, relationship provisions during problem talk, and problem perceptions after problem talk. Participants reported on outcome expectations again 9 months later. Results indicate that the positive relationship provisions associated with co-rumination may outweigh negative problem perceptions in predicting adolescents' outcome expectations for problem disclosures over time. Implications for the potentially reinforcing nature of co-rumination are discussed.