Identifying Problem-Talk and Co-rumination in Adolescents’ Social Networks

Co-rumination (excessive problem-talk) is linked to adolescents’ psychosocial well-being. Traditional measures of co-rumination assess co-rumination tendencies with one (unspecified) friend. However, this approach overlooks both the number and characteristics of co-rumination partner(s). The current study identifies problem-talk partners and the degree to which individuals co-ruminate with each partner. The sample includes 579 Finnish adolescents (grades 4–9; M age = 14.05, SD = 1.59; 52.3% self-identified as girl). More than half of adolescents (56%) nominated two or more problem-talk partners. Number of problem-talk partners and co-rumination among problem-talk partners were both associated with friendship closeness/satisfaction, but only co-rumination among problem-talk partners was positively linked to internalizing symptoms. Some evidence was found for a negative association between number of problem-talk partners and internalizing symptoms, underlining the importance of considering the specific ways in which problem-talk partners discuss problems.