Adjustment trade-offs of co-rumination in mother-adolescent relationships.
The current study examined co-rumination (i.e., extensively discussing, rehashing, and speculating about problems) in the context of mother-adolescent relationships. Fifth-, eighth-, and eleventh-graders (N=516) reported on co-rumination and more normative self-disclosure with mothers, their relationships with mothers, and their own internalizing symptoms. A subset of mothers (N=200) reported on mother-adolescent co-rumination and self-disclosure. Results from the adolescent-report data indicated greater mother-adolescent co-rumination with daughters than sons and also adjustment trade-offs of mother-adolescent co-rumination. Mother-adolescent co-rumination was related to positive relationship quality but also to enmeshment in the relationship. Whereas the relation with positive relationship quality appeared to be due in part to normative self-disclosure, the relation with enmeshment was unique to co-rumination. Mother-adolescent co-rumination also was related to youth anxiety/depression. The relations with enmeshment and internalizing symptoms were strongest when co-rumination focused on the mothers' problems. Implications of mother-adolescent co-rumination for promoting appropriate relationship boundaries and youth well-being are discussed.
Waller
Erika M
EM
Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, 210 McAlester Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. wallere@missouri.edu
Rose
Amanda J
AJ
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001288:Attention; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003858:Dependency, Psychological; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011340:Problem Solving; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012650:Self Disclosure