Report: Girls' Closeness Linked to Depression & Anxiety

A disturbing study was recently published exploring the relationships of girls and boys. The researchers, Amanda Rose, Wendy Carlson, and Erika Waller, made a disturbing discovery. They found that the closeness that girls shared-that was once thought to be positive-is linked to depression and anxiety in most young women.

The relationships that girls share were once thought to be the best support system, especially for a young lady going through puberty. The study, however, found that that same relationship can be detrimental a girl's mental health. They did find that there were certain indicators, although no conclusive information is available on the causal relation amongst the indicators.

The problematic friendships involve co-rumination. The term is described in the study as being the "excessive discussing [of ] personal problems within a dyadic [coupled] relationship". The co-rumination requires that two girls have a very close friendship, in which they discuss repeatedly (for more than a day) a negative topic. For instance, when two best gal pals get together to hash, rehash, and try to figure out why someone said something negative about one or the other. This is co-rumination, and it is very serious.

The recreation of the event, along with the many attempts to figure it out, is strongly linked to depression and anxiety in girls. Again, the causation is yet unknown. What the research did find was that girls who co-ruminate have a high rate of depression and anxiety. Conversely, the depressed and anxious girls were prone to co-rumination. Which causes which is yet to be determined.

Keep in mind: not all close relationships between girls are co-rumination. Don't go out and break up your daughter's friendship just yet. The two components of co-rumination have to be there before you begin to worry. That is the close friendship and the constant rehashing, of a single negative event for more than a day. Most girls get together to talk about a problem and move on. It is the ones who dwell on the issue that should be looked into.

A parent concerned over a daughter's friendship should try to find out if she is indeed participating in this behavior. The signs of depression and anxiety are universal and should be treated immediately. A girl's obsession with a negative event should be examined immediately as well. A vigilant parent should spot a troublesome friendship, and take action before it goes too far. The research also found that co-rumination and the link to mental health issues grew stronger and more severe with time.