Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Amanda Rose

Abstract

Co-rumination refers to the excessive and extensive discussion and revisiting of problems and negative feelings within dyadic relationships. Differences in friendships concerning co-rumination have found that girls co-ruminate more than boys, however, researchers have not examined the relations between the racial composition of friend dyads and co-rumination in the friendships of adolescents. Theoretical frameworks included response styles theory and fictive kin theory. The study involved secondary analyses of an archival data set in which adolescents responded to surveys about co-rumination and their same-sex friendships. The population used for the study consisted of 265 adolescent friend dyads from a town in the Midwest. Of those 265 friend dyads, 173 identified as White (85 girls and 88 boys), and 92 identified as Black (50 girls and 42 boys). Data were analyzed using ANOVAs and t-tests. Results indicated no significant difference across racial compositions. However, results did indicate a gender by race interaction for co-rumination difference in Black-Black boy friend dyads. Based on these findings, early intervention programs tailored specifically to gender by race in boys can be used to reduce co-rumination and teach more positive coping mechanisms. Positive social change implications of early intervention with the inclusion of parent education and in-school programs may lead to more mentally and emotionally resilient adults.

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