Co-rumination Goals Among Emerging Adult Women in the US Coping With Sexual Trauma

Sexual violence (SV) victimization is a common occurrence for women and severely impacts mental health, making effective coping essential. Co-rumination with friends is one way SV survivors cope, yet their specific goals for repeatedly discussing their trauma remain unexplored. This study, guided by the transactional theory of stress and coping, analyzed open-ended responses from 100 college women (ages 18–25) who experienced attempted or completed rape at age 14 or later. Thematic analysis revealed five co-rumination goals: Unloading, Validation and Clarity, Help, Not Feeling Alone, and Prevention. These findings provide important implications for effective trauma coping and future research.