A problem shared can be a problem doubled
People discuss their problems with friends in the hope that they'll gain some idea on how to solve them. And even if they don't find a way to solve their problems, it feels good to let off some steam. Indeed, having close friends to trust is a good relief against poor mental health.
The term psychologist's use for negative problem sharing is "co-rumination". Co-rumination is the mutual encouragement to discuss problems too much, repeatedly going over the same problems, expecting future problems and focusing on negative feelings. It is more about keeping talking about problems than solving them. In a study involving children aged seven to 15 years of age, researchers found that co-rumination in both boys and girls is associated with "high-quality" and close friendships. However, in girls, it was also associated with anxiety and depression (the same association was not found with the boys).
If we look at the theory behind why individuals ruminate, it may shed some light on why friends co-ruminate. So if two people believe rumination is beneficial, then working together to co-ruminate to find answers may seem like a useful thing to do, as two heads may appear better than one. But focusing on problems and negative emotion together can increase negative beliefs and moods — and result in a greater need to co-ruminate.
Traditionally, therapy has not prioritised handling rumination or co-rumination directly as maintaining factors in psychological problems. Instead, approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) have aimed to challenge only the content of rumination. Humanistic approaches such as counselling have provided conditions to potentially ruminate on the content of problems. And psychodynamic (心理动力的) approaches such as psychoanalysis have aimed to analyze the content of rumination.
But if this occurs in therapy, a strong therapeutic relationship may well be a positive outcome of co-rumination — regardless of whether the client's symptoms improve or not.
And, on the social side, discussing problems with friends doesn't always have to lead to worsening mental health, as long as the discussion involves finding solutions and the person with the problem acts on those solutions. Then, relationships can be positive and beneficial to both parties, and a problem shared can really be a problem halved.
A. According to a leading theory on rumination, people believe that it will help them find answers and make them feel better.
B. How you co-ruminate matters too.
C. Focusing on the content of rumination runs the risk of fostering co-rumination between client and therapist.
D. How problems are discussed, though, can be the difference between halving a problem or doubling it.
E. Co-rumination with work colleagues can increase the risk of stress and tiredness, one study suggests.
F. Research shows that co-rumination is a double-edged sword.
