Graduate Program

Counseling (School or Clinical Mental Health)

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

2010

Thesis Director

Heidi Larson

Thesis Committee Member

Angela Yoder

Thesis Committee Member

Steven Conn

Abstract

The present qualitative study examined gender differences in rumination, co-rumination, depression, and relationship satisfaction. Response style theory, gender role socialization, and social norms are proposed to explain the gender differences in depression. The researchers conducted a study with undergraduate and graduate students at a mid-sized Midwest university campus. The sample in the present study consisted of 232 students. There were 106 males and 126 females. Participants took an online survey that consisted of the Response Style Questionnaire (RSQ), Co-Rumination Questionnaire (CRQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Multidimensional Questionnaire (MRQ). The findings suggest that rumination is a significant predictor of depression, there is a significant difference between the genders for co-rumination, females had significantly higher co-rumination than males, co-rumination is a significant predictor or depression for males, and rumination and co-rumination predict relationship satisfaction. The findings also suggest that there is no significant difference between the genders in depression and rumination. The present studies finding contradict previous studies. The findings of the present study suggest that perhaps males tend to underreport their symptoms of depression and rumination. Discussion of the study findings is followed by suggestions for future researchers.

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