Meta-Analysis of the Correlation Between Rumination and Depression Among Adolescents

PURPOSE: To assess and quantify the relationship between rumination and depression among adolescents, while also exploring the potential moderating factors that could influence this relationship. METHOD: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang Data, CBM, and VIP were searched for records published from inception to February 28, 2024. Two researchers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed research quality. Meta-analysis was performed using Stata 17.0. RESULTS: A total of 29 studies involving 24,087 adolescents were included. The meta-analysis, using a random-effects model, revealed a strong correlation of 0.61 (95% confidence interval [0.60, 0.62]) between rumination and depression. Subgroup analyses indicated that the correlation was stronger among middle school students, in female-dominated samples, in European studies, in developed countries, and in research published before 2015. In addition, studies with larger sample sizes showed a stronger correlation. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis confirms a significant correlation between rumination and depression in adolescents, suggesting that rumination may play a pivotal role in adolescent mental health. Findings provide crucial evidence for shaping effective prevention and intervention strategies aimed at mitigating depression in this vulnerable population.