School-based cognitive-behavioural group intervention for reducing rumination in adolescents

BACKGROUND: Rumination is a repetitive cognitive process associated with emotional distress and may represent an important preventive target during adolescence. AIMS: This study examined the effectiveness of a CBT-based group psychoeducation programme in reducing rumination among adolescents. METHOD: A total of 173 eighth-grade students were screened, and 43 adolescents with elevated rumination were enrolled and randomly assigned to experimental, placebo, and control groups; 41 completed the study. A quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test-follow-up design was used. RESULTS: A mixed-design ANOVA showed significant time, group, and time × group effects. Rumination decreased significantly in the experimental group and was maintained at the 4-week follow-up, whereas no meaningful change was observed in the placebo or control groups. CONCLUSIONS: School-based CBT-oriented psychoeducation may represent a promising preventive approach for adolescents with elevated rumination.