Abstract
This study examined the influence of gender and gender role on co-rumination and emotional self-disclosure between various friend pairings of maturing young adults. We expected that gender role would influence an individual’s tendency to co-ruminate, and gender role of a friend would influence levels of co-rumination within the dyad. Participants (N=102, 32 male; 70 female) were college-aged students. Gender role of participants was assessed; participants also assessed the perceived gender role of a close male and female friend. Levels of co-rumination, emotional self-disclosure, and emotional impact of conversations with each friend close friend were measured in order to compare how participants co-ruminated and self-disclosed to male and female friend. Gender differences were found in co-rumination and amounts of positive and negative self-disclosure, with females having higher levels. Female friends were more often the recipients of co-rumination and disclosure. Categorical gender role of the participants moderated the effect of gender on co-rumination with a female friend. Perceived gender role of both male and female friends better predicted co-rumination than the gender or gender role of the participant. Dimensionally, femininity was consistently related to co-rumination and self-disclosure while masculinity was not. This study also examined emotional consequences of discussing problems with friends, with positive affect experienced more often than negative affect, for both males and females. Positive affect was also positively related to negative and positive self-disclosure with male and female friends. This study contributes to the literature concerning co-rumination and suggests further inquiry into the function of gender role in co-rumination.