Reconceptualizing Co-Rumination: A Novel Framework and Multidisciplinary Perspective

Co-rumination is a social emotion regulation strategy characterized by extensive and exhaustive discussions of stressors and negative emotions with another person. While research establishing the costs and benefits associated with co-rumination was formative, the narrow focus on explaining heightened internalizing symptoms and increased relationship quality in mostly White, US adolescents has precluded important advancements. In this article, we pave a way forward by offering a new framework with which to view co-rumination that emphasizes the need to 1.) examine the heterogeneous content of co-ruminative discussions that extends beyond individual-level stressors, 2.) directly assess the goals of co-ruminative conversations, and 3.) seriously consider the social nature of what it means to co-ruminate. We then connect this novel framework to influential theories and concepts across psychological subdisciplines to show how this reconceptualization of co-rumination can be further advanced in meaningful and differentiated ways when studied through a multidisciplinary perspective. This novel framework and the multidisciplinary application allows researchers to advance beyond viewing co-rumination solely through the lens of the trade-off hypothesis, and instead think more deeply about the nuances with which co-rumination operates when considering diverse populations and contexts. This approach will prove fruitful in understanding discussions of difficult and upsetting topics we have with close others, which may ultimately improve recommendations for how individuals seek and provide support through challenging times.