Too much chat about their problems may lead middle school–age girls into depression, according to a recent study at Stony Brook University. Past research indicates that girls are more likely than boys are to co-ruminate, repeatedly discussing difficulties with friends, speculating about causes and excessively dwelling on negative emotions. In the new study, psychologists confirmed that girls who co-ruminate more often than their peers have more depressive symptoms. They also found a new link with romantic experience: corumination was most likely to result in depressive symptoms among girls who were most active romantically.
This article was originally published with the title "Don't Talk It Out" in SA Mind 20, 4, 7 (July 2009)
doi:10.1038/scientificamericanmind0709-7c