The role of Facebook use in mediating the relation between rumination and adjustment after a relationship breakup

•Rumination on Facebook was related to decreased well-being following a breakup.•Facebook rumination was related to greater Facebook activity and importance.•Facebook rumination was a mediator of trait rumination and perceived adjustment.•Facebook importance was a mediator of trait rumination and perceived adjustment.

Given the popularity of social networking sites, it is important to examine the impact of rumination while examining the rich content available, particularly after a stressful interpersonal event. This pilot study examined how individual differences in rumination are related to Facebook use following a breakup. Findings indicate that trait rumination was associated with the tendency to experience maladaptive thoughts while examining an ex’s profile, as well as difficulties in adjustment following the breakup. Rumination on Facebook and the importance of Facebook in one’s social world mediated the relation between trait rumination and subsequent perceived adjustment. Thus, for high ruminators, placing a high reliance on Facebook and ruminating while on the site may hold particularly negative emotional consequences following a stressor.