Modeling Heterogeneity in the Simultaneous Emotional Costs and Social Benefits of Co-Rumination among Adolescents

• In Event: Poster Session 14
  In Poster Session: PS 14 Topic - Social Relationships

Abstract

Background: Co-rumination is the act of perseverating on problems or negative emotions with another person, where each individual takes an active role in encouraging and perpetuating negative talk (Rose, 2002). Past research has shown that co-rumination is related to more anxiety and depression, yet also fosters greater feelings of closeness and increased relationship quality (Rose, 2002; Rose, Carlson, & Waller, 2007), highlighting a tradeoff between intrapersonal costs and interpersonal benefits. However, given the limited amount of longitudinal work, the effects of within-person changes in co-rumination remain unknown. Moreover, there is no extant research that explores possible heterogeneity in the proposed tradeoff between the social benefits and emotional costs of increased co-rumination. Heterogeneity would indicate that not all adolescents experience concurrent costs and benefits, but that the relationship between these effects may differ across adolescents.

Objectives: We hypothesize that at times when adolescents co-ruminate above their own average level of co-rumination, they will report more anxiety and depression, as well as increased closeness with friends. Moreover, we seek to delineate heterogeneity in these effects, exploring whether there is variability in whether adolescents experience simultaneous costs and benefits of increased co-rumination.

Methods: Data from 1,013 adolescents (11-14yo at baseline) were collected as part of a 7-wave study, with measures assessed every 6-months. Participants completed the following scales: a brief version of the Co-Rumination Questionnaire (αrange = .89 – .94) (Rose, 2002), a generalized anxiety subscale from the Screen for Childhood Anxiety Related Disorders scale (αrange = .88 – .92) (Birmaher et al., 1999), The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (αrange = .91 – .93) (Weissman, Orvaschel, & Padian, 1980), and the close friendship subscale from the Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents, Revised Question Format (αrange = .70 – .75) (Wichstraum, 1995).

Results: A multivariate multilevel model was conducted with anxiety, depression, and closeness with friends simultaneously modeled as outcome variables. Gender, time, within-person co-rumination, and an interaction between gender and co-rumination were included as predictors. Random intercepts and slopes were estimated, and random effects were allowed to correlate. At times when adolescents reported co-ruminating at higher-than-typical levels, they reported concurrent increases in anxiety and depression, as well as more closeness with friends. Moreover, the correlation of random effects revealed negative relationships between anxiety and closeness with friends (r = -.28, CI = -.57, .04) and depression and closeness with friends (r = -.45, CI = -.69, -.18), meaning adolescents who experienced stronger-than-average effects of co-rumination on anxiety and depression reported less of an increase in closeness with friends.

Discussion: Consistent with the tradeoff hypothesis, the average adolescent experiences increased anxiety and depression, yet also increased feelings of closeness with friends at times when they co-ruminate at higher-than-average levels. However, there is significant heterogeneity, as some adolescents experience only benefits, and others experience only costs of co-rumination (See Figures 1 and 2). Notably, this is the first research, to our knowledge, to examine within-person effects of co-rumination on both intra- and interpersonal outcomes, while highlighting meaningful heterogeneity over a 4-year time-period in adolescence.

Authors

• Ana M. DiGiovanni, Columbia University
  Presenting Author

• Niall Bolger, Columbia University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Anna Vannucci, Columbia University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Christine McCauley Ohannessian, Florida State University
  Non-Presenting Author