Co-rumination with friends exacerbates association between peer victimization and adjustment in adolescence

Abstract

This study examined the moderating role of co-rumination with friends on the relations between peer victimization and psychological maladjustment (depressive symptoms, anxiety) in Chinese adolescents. Participants included 282 adolescents (118 boys, Mage = 12.90 years, SD = 0.71) who had same-gender reciprocated best friends in rural China. Data on peer victimization, co-rumination with friends, depressive symptoms, and anxiety were collected from peer nomination and self-reports. The findings revealed that the associations between peer victimization and psychological maladjustment were stronger among adolescents who had a higher level of co-rumination with friends. This result suggests that co-rumination with friends may worsen the psychological problems that victimized adolescents face. The results can inform prevention and intervention efforts to improve victimized adolescents' psychological problems by considering the role of victims' high-level of co-rumination with friends.