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Bad 'Gossip' Teens may love "Gossip Girl," but according to new research at Stony Brook University, New York, mimicking the hit television show's drama could be detrimental to their health. The study, which evaluated 83 7th and 8th grade girls, found that excessive discussion or co-rumination of problems between adolescent friends may lead to anxiety and depression in teens. This association was especially strong in girls who had early romantic experiences. "We know that being romantically active in adolescence can be challenging or stressful for young girls," says Lisa R. Starr, M.A., doctoral candidate in clinical psychology at Stony Brook and co-researcher of the study. "So, girls may be co-ruminating about their romantic experiences, and doing that, rather than problem solving, may increase their risk for feeling depressed." The abundance of communication technology available today may also be a factor in enabling this kind of environment for teens, Starr says.
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