This study examined the association between depressive rumination and depressive symptoms among adolescents from three countries: Colombia, Italy, and the United States (U.S.). We also examined the relation of depressive symptoms and depressive rumination with three societal value beliefs: individualism, uncertainty avoidance, and indulgence from Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions (The Cultural Factor Group, 2025). Participants included 540 youth (Mage = 12.50 years; 50% females) representing six subgroups: Colombian, Napoletano, Roman, U.S.-White, U.S.-Black, and U.S.-Latinx. Depressive rumination and depressive symptoms were significantly and positively correlated across all six subgroups (rs = 0.52 to 0.69, ps < 0.001) and across gender (rboys = 0.52, rgirls = 0.63, ps < 0.001). Depressive rumination was not significantly related to any of the three societal value beliefs. Depressive symptoms were significantly and positively correlated with uncertainty avoidance (r = 0.12, p < 0.01) and significantly and negatively correlated with individualism (r = -0.12, p < 0.01) but not significantly related to indulgence. Our findings advance understanding of how depressive processes and symptoms may be partially shaped by culture and gender among adolescents from three distinct countries with different value orientations. Through this, future pathways of prevention might consider societal beliefs to further benefit the development of youth across countries.
