Teenage Girls, Positive Minds

What’s on offer?

When friends excessively talk about their problems with each other, they can make themselves feel worse, rather than better. This phenomenon, known as ‘co-rumination’, often happens amongst teenage girls – and it can have negative effects on mental wellbeing in the long-run.

In this two-hour event we’ll showcase an awareness campaign about co-rumination, run between universities in Coventry, Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

You’ll get the chance to join some guided mindfulness exercises and be the first in the UK to try out our app, designed to help teenage girls to talk about big problems in a beneficial and mutually constructive way.

What’s it about?

Research shows that teenage girls who talk excessively about their personal problems or worries with their friend (i.e., co-rumination) are more likely to feel sad or blue. This can even lead to developing depression on the long-term. Unfortunately, there are no programs available that focus on preventing co-rumination among friends. As such, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Coventry University and VU Amsterdam developed a mindfulness programme called Happy Friends, Positive Minds which is currently evaluated in secondary schools. The aim of this programme is to reduce co-rumination, depression and to improve wellbeing of teenage girls.

Attending this event will create more awareness about the phenomena of co-rumination. It will also give you a good understanding of what co-rumination is and what research has been done so far. You will help with our research by participating in the guided mindfulness exercise which is an important element of the app we developed as part of the Happy Friends, Positive Minds programme. You will also be able to test a part of this app and let us know what you think about it. 

Who’s leading the event?

Dr Kim Bul, Coventry University, Dr Patricia Vujik, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences

Open to

Young people and adults. All young people (under 18s) must be accompanied by an adult.

Of particular interest to

Teenage girls, secondary school teachers, parents, healthcare professionals

Event booking deadline