The more we co-ruminate, the happier we are? The relationship between co-rumination and life satisfaction: Based on the process of dialogue

Co-rumination refers to the excessive discussion of negative issues, which has been associated with internalizing problems and friendship quality. Two studies were conducted to explore (a) the construct validity of Co-rumination Questionnaire and (b) the relationship between co-rumination and life satisfaction. Study 1 demonstrated the validity of the two-dimensional model of co-rumination. Findings indicated that the revised short version of the Co-rumination questionnaire comprises 10 items, involving "Supportive Discussion" (SD) and "Obsessive Whining" (OW). Study 2 focuses on the relationship between co-rumination and life satisfaction, aiming to explore the adaptive mechanisms of it. Middle school students (n = 2614; 51.8 % boys; M = 14.11 years, SD = 1.42) were investigated based on responses to questionnaires. Results revealed that co-rumination positively correlated with life satisfaction, whereby "SD" positively associated with life satisfaction, while "OW" negatively associated with it. Friendship quality was shown to serve as an intermediate mechanism of "SD" promoting life satisfaction, while it suppressed the negative effect of "OW". The effect of "OW" on life satisfaction differed between genders with the maladaptive result of "OW" being observed only in girls but not boys. The findings both directly and indirectly indicate the adaptability of co-rumination, revealing that "the more we co-ruminate, the happier we are."