Reconceptualizing co-rumination: A novel theoretical and multidisciplinary perspective.

Co-rumination is a social emotion regulation strategy characterized by extensive and exhaustive discussions of stressors, problems, and negative emotions with another person. While research establishing the costs and benefits associated with co-rumination has been formative, the focus on explaining heightened internalizing symptoms and increased relationship quality (i.e., the “tradeoff hypothesis”) in mostly adolescent friendships needs to be expanded. Through a social psychological lens, we pave a way forward by offering a new theoretical conceptualization of co-rumination that emphasizes the need to (a) explicitly consider the dyadic or social nature of co-rumination, (b) examine the heterogeneous content of co-ruminative discussions that extends beyond individual-level stressors, (c) assess the goals of co-ruminative conversations, and (d) consider with whom people co-ruminate. We then connect this theory of co-rumination to influential theories and concepts across psychological subdisciplines to show how this conceptualization of co-rumination can be further advanced when studied through a multidisciplinary perspective. This novel theoretical reconceptualization and multidisciplinary application advances beyond the tradeoff hypothesis by calling on researchers to consider the nuances of co-rumination across diverse populations and contexts. Reorienting co-rumination as such may prove fruitful to better understand difficult and upsetting conversations with close others, ultimately improving recommendations for how individuals seek and provide support through challenging times.