Does social anxiety predict rumination and co-rumination among adolescents?

Social anxiety in adolescence is manifested by anxiety about and avoidance of social interactions. The present study examined whether social anxiety predicts higher levels of both rumination and co-rumination over time. Rumination and co-rumination were studied as possible outcomes because the cognitive content of these processes often involves interpersonal concerns. A three-wave longitudinal study of 575 adolescents (aged 13-16 years old) was conducted over 6 months. Adolescent girls reported higher levels of social anxiety, rumination, and co-rumination than boys. Structural equation modelling analysis showed that social anxiety directly predicted higher levels of rumination and indirectly predicted higher levels of co-rumination over time. A gender difference was noted in that these relationships were more robust for girls than for boys.