Girls who talk extensively about their problems are at higher risk of depression, anxiety

Since ages it was believed that talking about problems with your best pal could actually help in overcoming depression. But a recent study has found that young girls who keep on talking with their friends about the problems in their lives are actually at higher risk of depression and anxiety.

The research was carried out by Amanda Rose, associate professor of psychological sciences in the College of Arts and Science. The study which was carried out for the period of six months was aimed at examining the effects of co-rumination (excessively talking with friends about problems and concerns) on 813 third, fifth, seventh and ninth grade students in mid-Missouri which included, both boys and girls.

The students were asked to fill up the questionnaires that assessed co-rumination, depression, anxiety and the quality of their best friendship in the fall and spring of the school year.

Rose found that the young girls co-ruminate more than the young boys and due to this they were at higher risk of falling prey to depression and anxiety.

"When girls co-ruminate, they're spending such a high percentage of their time dwelling on problems and concerns that it probably makes them feel sad and more hopeless about the problems because those problems are in the forefront of their minds. Those are symptoms of depression" Rose said.

"In terms of anxiety, co-ruminating likely makes them feel more worried about the problems, including about their consequences. Co-rumination also may lead to depression and anxiety because it takes so much time - time that could be used to engage in other, more positive activities that could help distract youth from their problems.

"This is especially true for problems that girls can't control, such as whether a particular boy likes them, or whether they get invited to a party that all of the popular kids are attending," she further added.
Girls while co-rumination may tend to take blame upon themselves for all the things that go wrong in their lives while this is not so with boys who looks at thing with different perspective.

The most interesting thing author found out was that co-rumination was the main reason for enhancing depression and anxiety among young girls but it also served as a means to close bonding or friendship. The young boys who also co-ruminated developed strong friendship with their mates across the year and still were at low risk of developing depression or anxiety.

Rose said, "For years, we have encouraged kids to find friends who they can talk to about their problems, and with whom they can give and receive social support. In general, talking about problems and getting social support is linked with being healthy.

“What's intriguing about theses findings is that co-rumination likely represents too much of a good thing. Some kids, especially girls, are taking talking about problems to an extreme. When that happens, the balance tips, and talking about problems with friends can become emotionally unhealthy" she said.

Rose advised that the adolescents should be asked to talk about their problems but not in excess, only within limits. And, along with it they should be asked to take part in other activities, like sports, so that they can divert their mind from the problems which sometimes are beyond one’s control.

The study, "Prospective Associations of Co-Rumination With Friendship and Emotional Adjustment: Considering the Socioemotional Trade-Offs of Co-rumination," will be published in the July issue of Development Psychology.