Does Attachment Style Moderate the Association between Co-Rumination and Peer-Popularity?
Faculty Mentor
Lindsey Stone, PhD
Location
Russell Union Ballroom
Type of Research
Proposed
Session Format
Poster Presentation
College
College of Behavioral & Social Sciences
Department
Psychology
Abstract
Peers become key sources of emotional and social support during early adulthood (Furman & Burhmester, 1992; Conway et al., 2011). Co-rumination, or excessively discussing problems with a friend, creates intimacy and trust between dyads (Calmes & Roberts, 2008; Rose et al., 2007; Bernasco et al., 2025). However, co-rumination is also associated with an increased risk of internalizing symptoms, including depressive symptoms and depression contagion (Rose, 2002, 2007; Stevens & Prinstein, 2005; Calmes & Roberts, 2008; Hankin et al., 2010).
Attachment refers to the patterns of behavior that individuals develop in their close relationships, particularly regarding relying on others for emotional support. In adolescence and emerging adulthood, attachment anxiety is associated with more frequent co-rumination in girls (Bastin et al., 2021). Additionally, successful reassurance-seeking behaviors are associated with lower depressive symptoms for individuals with high attachment anxiety (Forchuck et al., 2020).
Beyond dyadic friendships, an individual’s popularity within peer networks may impact how co-rumination relates to social and emotional outcomes. In social networks, high perceived popularity can reduce social satisfaction and friendship quality, suggesting co-rumination’s benefits may not extend to all friendships (Fergusen & Ryan, 2019).
In conclusion, co-rumination’s two-fold impact on friendship quality and depression risk may differ for individuals based on their style of connecting with others (attachment style) and how they are perceived by their group (popularity). The present study examines how co-rumination and attachment shape social functioning in emerging adult women. This study predicts that self-reported attachment will moderate the association between co-rumination and peer-popularity.
Undergraduate women from two sororities were recruited at a public university. Participants completed self-report surveys on co-rumination, attachment style, depressive symptoms, and nominated peers on friendship, popularity and likeability. Analyses will examine the potential links between co-rumination and attachment style for predicting social network status vs. depression risk.
References
Bastin, M., Mezulis, A. H., Aldrich, J. T., Bosmans, G., Nelis, S., Raes, F., & Bijttebier, P. (2021). Problem Talk in Adolescence: Temperament and Attachment as Predictors of Co-Rumination Trajectories in Boys and Girls. Brain Sciences, 11(9), 1157. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091157
Bernasco, E. L., van der Graaff, J., Schwartz-Mette, R. A., & Branje, S. (2025). More benefits than costs: Associations of co-rumination with positive friendship quality and depressive symptoms at the within-person level. Developmental Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0002034
Calmes, C. A., & Roberts, J. E. (2008). Rumination in interpersonal relationships: Does Co-rumination explain gender differences in emotional distress and relationship satisfaction among college students? Cognitive Therapy and Research, 32(4), 577–590. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-008-9200-3
Conway, C. C., Rancourt, D., Adelman, C. B., Burk, W. J., & Prinstein, M. J. (2011). Depression socialization within friendship groups at the transition to adolescence: The roles of gender and group centrality as moderators of peer influence. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 120(4), 857-867. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024779
Ferguson, S.M., Ryan, A.M. It’s Lonely at the Top: Adolescent Students’ Peer-perceived Popularity and Self-perceived Social Contentment. J Youth Adolescence 48, 341–358 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-018-0970-y
Forchuk, C. A., Plouffe, R. A., & Saklofske, D. H. (2020). Do you “like” me? The roles of Facebook reassurance seeking and attachment style on depression. Psychology of Popular Media, 10(2), 223-229. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000312
Fraley, R. C., Heffernan, M. E., Vicary, A. M., & Brumbaugh, C. C. (2011). The Experiences in Close Relationships—Relationship Structures Questionnaire: A method for assessing attachment orientations across relationships. Psychological Assessment, 23(3), 615–625. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022898
Furman, W., & Buhrmester, D. (1992). Age and sex differences in perceptions of networks of personal relationships. Child Development, 63(1), 103–115. https://doi.org/10.2307/1130905
Hankin, B. L., Stone, L., & Wright, P. A. (2010). Corumination, interpersonal stress generation, and internalizing symptoms: Accumulating effects and transactional influences in a multiwave study of adolescents. Development and Psychopathology, 22, 217-235. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579409990368
Litwack, S. D., Aikins, J. W., & Cillessen, A. H. N. (2010). The Distinct Roles of Sociometric and Perceived Popularity in Friendship: Implications for Adolescent Depressive Affect and Self-Esteem. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 32(2), 226-251. https://doi.org/10.1177/0272431610387142 (Original work published 2012)
Stevens, E. A., & Prinstein, M. J. (2005). Peer contagion of depressogenic attributional styles among adolescents: A longitudinal study. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 33, 25-37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-005-0931-2
Rose, A. J. (2002). Co-rumination in the friendships of girls and boys. Child Development, 73(6), 1830–1843.https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8624.00509
Rose, A. J., Carlson, W., & Waller, E. M. (2007). Prospective associations of Co-rumination with friendship and emotional adjustment: Considering the socioemotional trade-offs of co-rumination. Developmental Psychology, 43(4), 1019-1031. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.43.4.1019
Program Description
.
Start Date
4-23-2026 10:00 AM
End Date
4-23-2026 12:00 PM
Recommended Citation
Chapman-Klas, Alyssa D. and Stone, Lindsey B. PhD, "Does Attachment Style Moderate the Association between Co-Rumination and Peer-Popularity?" (2026). GS4 Student Scholars Symposium. 34.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/research_symposium/2026/2026/34
Does Attachment Style Moderate the Association between Co-Rumination and Peer-Popularity?
Russell Union Ballroom
Peers become key sources of emotional and social support during early adulthood (Furman & Burhmester, 1992; Conway et al., 2011). Co-rumination, or excessively discussing problems with a friend, creates intimacy and trust between dyads (Calmes & Roberts, 2008; Rose et al., 2007; Bernasco et al., 2025). However, co-rumination is also associated with an increased risk of internalizing symptoms, including depressive symptoms and depression contagion (Rose, 2002, 2007; Stevens & Prinstein, 2005; Calmes & Roberts, 2008; Hankin et al., 2010).
Attachment refers to the patterns of behavior that individuals develop in their close relationships, particularly regarding relying on others for emotional support. In adolescence and emerging adulthood, attachment anxiety is associated with more frequent co-rumination in girls (Bastin et al., 2021). Additionally, successful reassurance-seeking behaviors are associated with lower depressive symptoms for individuals with high attachment anxiety (Forchuck et al., 2020).
Beyond dyadic friendships, an individual’s popularity within peer networks may impact how co-rumination relates to social and emotional outcomes. In social networks, high perceived popularity can reduce social satisfaction and friendship quality, suggesting co-rumination’s benefits may not extend to all friendships (Fergusen & Ryan, 2019).
In conclusion, co-rumination’s two-fold impact on friendship quality and depression risk may differ for individuals based on their style of connecting with others (attachment style) and how they are perceived by their group (popularity). The present study examines how co-rumination and attachment shape social functioning in emerging adult women. This study predicts that self-reported attachment will moderate the association between co-rumination and peer-popularity.
Undergraduate women from two sororities were recruited at a public university. Participants completed self-report surveys on co-rumination, attachment style, depressive symptoms, and nominated peers on friendship, popularity and likeability. Analyses will examine the potential links between co-rumination and attachment style for predicting social network status vs. depression risk.
References
Bastin, M., Mezulis, A. H., Aldrich, J. T., Bosmans, G., Nelis, S., Raes, F., & Bijttebier, P. (2021). Problem Talk in Adolescence: Temperament and Attachment as Predictors of Co-Rumination Trajectories in Boys and Girls. Brain Sciences, 11(9), 1157. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091157
Bernasco, E. L., van der Graaff, J., Schwartz-Mette, R. A., & Branje, S. (2025). More benefits than costs: Associations of co-rumination with positive friendship quality and depressive symptoms at the within-person level. Developmental Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0002034
Calmes, C. A., & Roberts, J. E. (2008). Rumination in interpersonal relationships: Does Co-rumination explain gender differences in emotional distress and relationship satisfaction among college students? Cognitive Therapy and Research, 32(4), 577–590. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-008-9200-3
Conway, C. C., Rancourt, D., Adelman, C. B., Burk, W. J., & Prinstein, M. J. (2011). Depression socialization within friendship groups at the transition to adolescence: The roles of gender and group centrality as moderators of peer influence. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 120(4), 857-867. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024779
Ferguson, S.M., Ryan, A.M. It’s Lonely at the Top: Adolescent Students’ Peer-perceived Popularity and Self-perceived Social Contentment. J Youth Adolescence 48, 341–358 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-018-0970-y
Forchuk, C. A., Plouffe, R. A., & Saklofske, D. H. (2020). Do you “like” me? The roles of Facebook reassurance seeking and attachment style on depression. Psychology of Popular Media, 10(2), 223-229. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000312
Fraley, R. C., Heffernan, M. E., Vicary, A. M., & Brumbaugh, C. C. (2011). The Experiences in Close Relationships—Relationship Structures Questionnaire: A method for assessing attachment orientations across relationships. Psychological Assessment, 23(3), 615–625. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022898
Furman, W., & Buhrmester, D. (1992). Age and sex differences in perceptions of networks of personal relationships. Child Development, 63(1), 103–115. https://doi.org/10.2307/1130905
Hankin, B. L., Stone, L., & Wright, P. A. (2010). Corumination, interpersonal stress generation, and internalizing symptoms: Accumulating effects and transactional influences in a multiwave study of adolescents. Development and Psychopathology, 22, 217-235. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579409990368
Litwack, S. D., Aikins, J. W., & Cillessen, A. H. N. (2010). The Distinct Roles of Sociometric and Perceived Popularity in Friendship: Implications for Adolescent Depressive Affect and Self-Esteem. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 32(2), 226-251. https://doi.org/10.1177/0272431610387142 (Original work published 2012)
Stevens, E. A., & Prinstein, M. J. (2005). Peer contagion of depressogenic attributional styles among adolescents: A longitudinal study. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 33, 25-37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-005-0931-2
Rose, A. J. (2002). Co-rumination in the friendships of girls and boys. Child Development, 73(6), 1830–1843.https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8624.00509
Rose, A. J., Carlson, W., & Waller, E. M. (2007). Prospective associations of Co-rumination with friendship and emotional adjustment: Considering the socioemotional trade-offs of co-rumination. Developmental Psychology, 43(4), 1019-1031. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.43.4.1019
