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Cited by 330Death Anxiety and Social ExclusionAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesBullying, Victimization, and Aggression

Associations between rejection sensitivity and mental health outcomes: A meta-analytic review

Open access
Gao, Shuling, Assink, Mark, Cipriani, Andrea, Lin, Kangguang·2017·Clinical Psychology Review
DOI 10.1016/j.cpr.2017.08.007
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Abstract

Rejection sensitivity is a personality disposition characterized by oversensitivity to social rejection. Using a three-level meta-analytic model, 75 studies were reviewed that examined associations between rejection sensitivity and five mental health outcomes: depression, anxiety, loneliness, borderline personality disorder, and body dysmorphic disorder. The results showed significant and moderate associations between rejection sensitivity and depression (pooled r=0.332; p<0.001), anxiety (pooled r=0.407; p<0.001), loneliness (pooled r=0.386; p<0.001), borderline personality disorder (pooled r=0.413; p<0.001), and body dysmorphic disorder (pooled r=0.428; p<0.001). The associations between rejection sensitivity and depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder varied by type of sample, but the associations were similar for clinical and non-clinical (i.e., community) samples. The association between rejection sensitivity and anxiety was negatively moderated by percentage of females in samples. The association between rejection sensitivity and depression was negatively moderated by length of follow-up. The longitudinal associations between rejection sensitivity and depression, anxiety, and loneliness were stable over time. Implications of the findings for both risk assessment and prevention and intervention strategies in mental health practice are discussed.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.cpr.2017.08.007

Cites

103 of 105 references verified0 citation errors · 2 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

16 of 53 cited sources checked · 13 supported · 0 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

  • Premisecitation

    Extensive research has shown that rejection sensitivity is associated with a range of mental health problems.

    “Extensive research has shown that rejection sensitivity is associated with a range of mental health problems (e.g., Chango, McElhaney, Allen, Schad, & Marston, 2012;Chesin, Fertuck, Goodman, Lichenstein, & Stanley, 2015;Rowe, Gembeck, Rudolph, & Nesdale, 2015;Webb et al., 2015).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim2 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Chango et al., 2012 source

      The Discussion (page unavailable in our copy) reports that rejection sensitivity, combined with relational stressors, predicted increases in depressive symptoms among adolescents. The paper also discusses prior research on internalizing disorders, but its own findings concern depressive symptoms, not a range of mental health problems. (LLM, conf=0.84)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites Chesin et al., 2015 source
    • cites Rowe et al., 2015 source
  • Premisecitation

    Individuals with high rejection sensitivity show greater responsivity to social rejection than individuals with low rejection sensitivity.

    “Research has evidenced that individuals with high rejection sensitivity show greater responsivity to social rejection than individuals with low rejection sensitivity”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Burklund, Eisenberger, and Lieberman (2007) source
  • Premisecitation

    Individuals with high levels of rejection sensitivity tend to fear or anxiously expect rejection of others.

    “Individuals with high levels of rejection sensitivity tend to fear or anxiously expect rejection of others (Ayduk & Gyurak, 2008;Romero-Canyas et al., 2010).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Ayduk & Gyurak, 2008 source
    • cites Romero-Canyas et al., 2010 source
  • Premisecitation

    Individuals with high rejection sensitivity automatically process rejection-related content.

    “are on alert for rejection-related cues, automatically process rejection-related content (Berenson et al., 2009)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Berenson et al., 2009 source
  • Premisecitation

    Individuals with high rejection sensitivity are on alert for rejection-related cues.

    “are on alert for rejection-related cues, automatically process rejection-related content (Berenson et al., 2009)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Berenson et al., 2009 source
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 35
  • May combine two claims. 33
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 2

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    The CAPS theory stresses the presence of 'if ... then...' patterns in the association between rejection sensitivity and behavior.

    “Specifically, this theory stresses the presence of 'if … then…' patterns in the assiciation between rejection sensitivity and behavior (Ayduk & Gyurak, 2008)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Ayduk & Gyurak, 2008 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Rejection sensitivity is thought to develop as a result of an individual's early experience of rejection, neglect, or abuse.

    “Rejection sensitivity is thought to develop as a result of an individual's early experience of rejection, neglect, or abuse (Ayduk & Gyurak, 2008).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Ayduk & Gyurak, 2008 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Individuals who scored higher on a measure of rejection sensitivity exhibited greater dorsal anterior cingulate cortex activity in response to disapproving facial expressions, but not in response to facial expressions of anger or disgust.

    “They found that individuals who scored higher on a measure of rejection sensitivity exhibited greater dorsal anterior cingulate cortex activity in response to disapproving facial expressions, but not in response to facial expressions of anger or disgust.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Burklund, Eisenberger, and Lieberman (2007) source

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Early interpersonal trauma (e.g., childhood maltreatment) has long-term effects on later psychopathology.

    “Numerous studies have reported that early interpersonal trauma (e.g., childhood maltreatment) has long-term effects on later psychopathology”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim2 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Kim & Cicchetti, 2010 source
    • cites Lansford et al., 2002 source
    • cites Wolfe et al., 2004 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    These dynamics link fears and expectations of rejection, perceptions or attributions of rejection, and affective or behavioral overreactions to perceived rejection.

    “These dynamics link fears and expectations of rejection, perceptions or attributions of rejection, and affective or behavioral overreactions to perceived rejection (Ayduk & Gyurak, 2008).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Ayduk & Gyurak, 2008 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductcitation

    Using a three-level meta-analytic model, all relevant effect sizes can be extracted from one primary study, so that all information can be preserved and maximum statistical power can be achieved.

    “Using this three-level metaanalytic model, all relevant effect sizes can be extracted from one primary study, so that all information can be preserved and maximum statistical power can be achieved (Assink et al., 2015).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Assink et al., 2015 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The cognitive-affective processing systems (CAPS) framework states that individuals with high levels of rejection sensitivity may misinterpret and distort the actions of others, which may lead to feelings of anger, loneliness, or depression.

    “the cognitive-affective processing systems (CAPS) framework (Ayduk & Gyurak, 2008;Mischel, 1973;Mischel & Shoda, 1995) states that individuals with high levels of rejection sensitivity may misinterpret and distort the actions of others, which may lead to feelings of anger, loneliness, or depression.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Ayduk & Gyurak, 2008 source

      Split into 2 atoms — 1 confirmed, 1 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites Mischel, 1973 source
    • cites Mischel & Shoda, 1995 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In the anxiety domain, no significant moderating effect was found for mean age of the sample, participants' age (categorized), type of measurement for rejection sensitivity, type of measurement for anxiety, type of effect size, length of follow-up, publication year, or continent.

    “We found no significant moderating effect for mean age of the sample, participants' age (categorized), type of measurement for rejection sensitivity, type of measurement for anxiety, type of effect size, length of follow-up, publication year, and continent in which studies were performed.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    After trim-and-fill adjustment, the longitudinal overall effect sizes became r = 0.212 for depression, r = 0.320 for loneliness, and r = 0.300 for anxiety, and all remained significant.

    “After considering the possibility of bias in these results by performing trim-and-fill-analyses, the adjusted overall effect sizes became somewhat smaller (r = 0.212 for depression and r = 0.320 for loneliness) or larger (r = 0.300 for anxiety), but were all still significant.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The overall association between rejection sensitivity and depression was r = 0.332, and the overall association between rejection sensitivity and body dysmorphic disorder was r = 0.428.

    “The overall associations were all significant and ranged from r = 0.332 (for depression) to r = 0.428 (for body dysmorphic disorder).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The total sample size was 21,008 and the mean age of all participants was 24.058 years (SD = 11.520).

    “The total sample size was 21,008 and the mean age of all the participants was 24.058 years (SD = 11.520).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In the depression domain, no significant moderating effect was found for percentage of females, mean age of the sample, participants' age (categorized), type of measurement for rejection sensitivity, type of measurement for depression, type of effect size, publication year, or continent.

    “No significant moderating effect was found for percentage of females, mean age of the sample, participants' age (categorized), type of measurement for rejection sensitivity, type of measurement for depression, type of effect size, publication year, and continent in which studies were performed.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    6.7% of the studies used a clinical or high-risk sample, 82.7% used a community sample, and 10.7% used a mixed sample.

    “6.7% (n = 5) of the studies used a clinical or high-risk sample, 82.7% (n = 62) used a community sample, and 10.7% (n = 8) used a mixed sample.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In the borderline personality disorder domain, no significant moderating effect was found for percentage of females, mean age of the sample, type of measurement for rejection sensitivity, type of measurement for borderline personality disorder, publication year, or continent.

    “No significant moderating effect was found for percentage of females, mean age of the sample, type of measurement for rejection sensitivity, type of measurement for borderline personality disorder, publication year, and continent in which studies were performed (see Table 4).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    60.0% of the studies were conducted in North America, 18.7% in Europe, 13.3% in Australia, and 8.0% in Asia.

    “60.0% (n = 45) of the studies were conducted in North America, 18.7% (n = 14) of the studies took place in Europe, and only 13.3% (n = 10) and 8.0% (n = 6) of the studies were conducted in Australia and Asia, respectively.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Seventy-five studies (44 on depression, 31 on anxiety, 9 on loneliness, 19 on borderline personality disorder, and 5 on body dysmorphic disorder), from which a total of 245 correlations (212 cross-sectional and 33 longitudinal correlations) could be extracted, met the inclusion criteria and were included in the present meta-analytic study.

    “Seventy-five studies (44 on depression, 31 on anxiety, 9 on loneliness, 19 on borderline personality disorder, and 5 on body dysmorphic disorder), from which a total of 245 correlations (212 crosssectional and 33 longitudinal correlations) could be extracted, met the inclusion criteria and were thus included in the present meta-analytic study.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    The adjusted overall effect sizes for the four mental health outcomes with publication bias were all significant and moderate in size.

    “The adjusted overall effect sizes for the four mental health outcomes were all significant and moderate in size, based on the criteria of Cohen (1992).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Cohen (1992) source

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Of the 75 studies included in this review, 68.0% used a cross-sectional design, 24.0% used a longitudinal design, and 8.0% used an experimental design.

    “Of the 75 studies included in this review, 68.0% (n = 51) used a cross-sectional design, 24.0% (n = 18) used a longitudinal design, and 8.0% (n = 6) used an experimental design.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Based on longitudinal associations, rejection sensitivity is significantly related to depression, anxiety, and loneliness over time.

    “based on longitudinal associations, this study showed that rejection sensitivity is significantly related to depression, anxiety, and loneliness, over time.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The association between rejection sensitivity and borderline personality disorder did not differ between males and females or between different age groups.

    “Since the association between rejection sensitivity and borderline personality disorder did not differ between males and females or between different age groups”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The biasing effects of publication bias were small: Δ mean r = 0.027 for depression, 0.044 for anxiety, 0.007 for loneliness, and 0.024 for borderline personality disorder.

    “Although the adjusted mean associations were either smaller or larger than the estimated mean associations, the biasing effects were small (for depression, Δ mean r = 0.027; for anxiety, Δ mean r = 0.044; for loneliness, Δ mean r = 0.007; and for borderline personality disorder, Δ mean r = 0.024).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The overall associations were not moderated by the type of instrument used to assess rejection sensitivity or the five mental health problems.

    “our results showed that the overall associations were not moderated by the type of instrument that was used to assess rejection sensitivity or the five mental health problems.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The strength of the associations between rejection sensitivity and depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder varied by type of sample, but the associations were similar for clinical and nonclinical samples.

    “The strength of the associations between rejection sensitivity and depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder varied by type of sample, but the associations were similar for clinical and nonclinical samples (i.e., community samples).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    For depression, small effect sizes were underrepresented; for anxiety, loneliness, and borderline personality disorder, large effect sizes were underrepresented.

    “For depression, small effect sizes were underrepresented (the adjusted mean r was smaller than the unadjusted mean r); whereas for anxiety, loneliness, and borderline personality disorder, large effect sizes were underrepresented (the adjusted mean r was larger than the unadjusted mean r).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    In the anxiety domain, the instrument used to measure rejection sensitivity was not a statistically significant moderator of the association (F(2, 76) = 2.141, p = 0.125).

    “Measurement of RS | | | | | | F(2, 76) | 0.125 | 0.003 ⁎⁎ | 0.005 ⁎ |”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    The rejection sensitivity system is intended to protect the self against future rejection by triggering rapid defensive responses when social threats exist.

    “Rejection sensitivity results from previous experiences of social rejection and the rejection sensitivity system is intended to protect the self against future rejection by triggering rapid defensive responses when social threats exist (Romero-Canyas et al., 2010).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Romero-Canyas et al., 2010 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    At the neural level, individuals high in rejection sensitivity may be more sensitive to facial expressions signaling potential rejection, but not to threatening facial expressions in general.

    “This suggests that, at the neural level, individuals high in rejection sensitivity may be more sensitive to facial expressions signaling potential rejection, but not to threatening facial expressions in general.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Rejection sensitivity is learned through experience.

    “Researchers have argued that rejection sensitivity is learned through experience (Romero-Canyas et al., 2010)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Romero-Canyas et al., 2010 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    The cognitive-affective processing systems (CAPS) framework can be used to account for possible associations between rejection sensitivity and mental health problems.

    “The cognitive-affective processing systems (CAPS) framework (Mischel, 1973;Mischel & Shoda, 1995) can be used to account for possible associations between rejection sensitivity and mental health problems.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Mischel, 1973 source
    • cites Mischel & Shoda, 1995 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Rejection sensitivity can be explained as a state of a defensive motivational system.

    “Rejection sensitivity can also be explained as a state of a defensive motivational system (Downey, Mougios, Ayduk, London, & Shoda, 2004;Romero-Canyas et al., 2010).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Downey et al., 2004 source
    • cites Romero-Canyas et al., 2010 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Rejection sensitivity is thought to arise as a result of an individual's exposure to situations in which the physical or emotional acts of others, either overt or covert, and active or passive, communicate rejection.

    “More broadly, it is thought to arise as a result of an individual's exposure to situations in which the physical or emotional acts of others, either overt or covert, and active or passive, communicate rejection (Romero-Canyas, Downey, Berenson, Ayduk, & Kang, 2010).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Romero-Canyas et al., 2010 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    This is the first meta-analysis examining rejection sensitivity and mental health.

    “This is the first meta-analysis examining rejection sensitivity and mental health.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    The CAPS theory explains why and how people's behavior varies stably across situations.

    “The CAPS theory (Mischel & Shoda, 1995) explains why and how people's behavior varies stably across situations.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Mischel & Shoda, 1995 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisereasoning

    Rejection sensitivity may be situation-specific.

    “and that the learned nature of feeling rejected implies that rejection sensitivity may be situation-specific (Levy, Ayduk, & Downey, 2001).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Levy, Ayduk, & Downey, 2001

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    Until now, a systematic review statistically summarizing associations between rejection sensitivity and mental health problems was not available.

    “Until now, a systematic review statistically summarizing associations between rejection sensitivity and mental health problems was not available.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductcitation

    The National Institutes of Health's Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies was used to assess the quality of the included studies.

    “To minimize possible bias in individual studies, the National Institutes of Health's Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies (National Institutes of Health, 2014) was used to assess the quality of the included studies.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites National Institutes of Health, 2014

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    According to the DSM-IV, rejection sensitivity is an atypical feature of major depressive disorder.

    “According to the DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994), rejection sensitivity is an atypical feature of major depressive disorder.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites American Psychiatric Association, 1994

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    When rejection is the threat, activation of the rejection sensitivity system prepares individuals to detect signs of social threat, and to be ready for immediate action in order to avert the danger by being self-defensive.

    “When rejection is the threat, activation of the rejection sensitivity system prepares individuals to detect signs of social threat, and to be ready for immediate action in order to avert the danger by being self-defensive (Downey et al., 2004).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Downey et al., 2004 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Individuals with a social anxiety disorder or a borderline personality disorder are very sensitive to being negatively evaluated and to social rejection.

    “Additionally, individuals with a social anxiety disorder or a borderline personality disorder are very sensitive to being negatively evaluated and to social rejection (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites American Psychiatric Association, 2013

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductcitation

    The present review was conducted according to the PRISMA statement.

    “The present review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement (Moher, Liberati, Tetzlaff, & Altman, 2009).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Moher et al., 2009 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    In studies using more traditional two-level meta-analytic models, effect sizes extracted from the same primary study are often averaged into a single effect or discarded, meaning loss of information and lower statistical power in the analyses.

    “In contrast, in studies using more traditional two-level meta-analytic models, effect sizes extracted from the same primary study are often averaged into a single effect or discarded, meaning loss of information and lower statistical power in the analyses.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    Inter-rater reliability was excellent for all coded variables (ICCs ranged from 0.90 to 1.00 and kappa values ranged from 0.95 to 1.00).

    “As for the inter-rater agreement between the two raters, it was excellent for all coded variables (the ICCs ranged from 0.90 to1.00 and the kappa values ranged from 0.95 to1.00).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). The quote only partly states this claim.

    Interpretationown data

    The moderating effect of sample type on the rejection sensitivity-anxiety association was likely driven by the mixed sample category only.

    “As for the depression outcome, this moderating effect of sample type was likely to be driven by the mixed sample category only.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    All associations included in the present meta-analysis were unadjusted estimates except the association from Kawamoto, Ura, and Hiraki (2017), which was controlled for age and sex.

    “All associations included in the present meta-analysis were unadjusted estimates except the association that was extracted from the study of Kawamoto, Ura, and Hiraki (2017), which was controlled for age and sex.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Kawamoto, Ura, and Hiraki (2017) source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    The research protocol was registered on PROSPERO (registration number CRD42016053389).

    “the research protocol was registered on the International Prospective Register for Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), registration number CRD42016053389”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductcitation

    To evaluate publication bias, funnel plots were visually inspected and Duval and Tweedie's trim-and-fill analysis was conducted.

    “To evaluate the extent to which the results of the present meta-analytic review were biased because of publication bias or any other form of bias, we visually inspected funnel plots of the effect sizes, and we conducted Duval and Tweedie's trim-and-fill analysis (Duval & Tweedie, 2000).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Duval & Tweedie, 2000 source
    • The authors state this as an assumption: If effect sizes are symmetrically distributed around the mean effect, the results are not affected by a form of bias.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    Two authors coded independently all primary studies included in this meta-analysis.

    “Two authors (SG and KL) coded independently all primary studies that were included in this meta-analysis.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    A three-level meta-analytic model was used to synthesize effect sizes and to conduct moderator analyses.

    “In the present study, a three-level meta-analytic model was used to synthesize effect sizes and to conduct moderator analyses.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    The literature search was independently performed by two authors.

    “The literature search was independently performed by two authors of the current study (SG and KL) in the above-mentioned databases.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    Quality assessment was independently conducted by two authors.

    “Quality assessment was independently conducted by two authors (SG and KL), and disagreements were resolved via discussion between these two raters.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    Each unique search result was reviewed independently by two authors to determine eligibility.

    “Each unique search result was reviewed independently by two authors (SG and KL) to determine eligibility.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    One effect size in the depression domain was identified with a z value larger than 3.29, and its raw r value was replaced by a new r value equal to the highest effect falling within the normal range.

    “One effect size in the depression domain was identified with a z value larger than 3.29.To reduce the impact of this outlier, the raw r value of the outlier was replaced by a new r value that equaled the highest effect falling within the normal range.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    A possible explanation for the absence of an age moderating effect is that the rather narrow age range of participants in the primary studies limited detection of a real moderating effect of age.

    “A possible explanation is that the rather narrow age range of participants in the primary studies limited detecting a real moderating effect of age on the associations.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The findings provide support for existing knowledge that rejection sensitivity is related to depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder, and generate new knowledge that rejection sensitivity is related to loneliness and body dysmorphic disorder.

    “The findings of the present study not only provide support for the existing knowledge that rejection sensitivity is related to depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder, but also generate new knowledge in the sense that rejection sensitivity is related to loneliness and body dysmorphic disorder.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Based on the CAPS framework, substantial associations between rejection sensitivity and different mental health problems were to be expected.

    “Based on this framework, substantial associations between rejection sensitivity and different mental health problems were to be expected.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The associations between rejection sensitivity and mental health problems may be bi-directional: rejection sensitivity may evoke mental health problems, but mental health problems may also elicit rejection sensitivity.

    “Thus, the associations between rejection sensitivity and mental health problems may be bi-directionally (i.e., rejection sensitivity may evoke mental health problems, but mental health problems may also elicit rejection sensitivity).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The present results support the CAPS framework because they indicate moderate associations between rejection sensitivity and five mental health problems.

    “Our results support the CAPS framework, as they indicate moderate associations between rejection sensitivity and five mental health problems.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    The number of studies and/or effect sizes in some categories of the tested moderator variables was rather small, resulting in low statistical power in the analyses.

    “it must be noted that the number of studies and/or effect sizes in some categories of the variables that were tested as potential moderators were rather small, resulting in a low statistical power in the analyses.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Intervention programs targeting rejection sensitivity may be effective for both males and females across different ages.

    “intervention programs targeting rejection sensitivity may be effective for both males and females across different ages.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Assessing rejection sensitivity is relevant for clients of all ages because the strength of the associations between rejection sensitivity and the five mental health problems did not change by age.

    “assessing rejection sensitivity is relevant for clients of all ages, since the results of this study showed that the strength of the associations between rejection sensitivity and the five mental health problems did not change by age.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationown data

    The strength of the association between rejection sensitivity and depression may become smaller over time.

    “that the strength of the association between rejection sensitivity and depression may become smaller over time.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    The marginal significance of follow-up length as a moderator in the longitudinal meta-analysis may be due to a lack of statistical power arising from the rather low number of effect sizes.

    “followup length was only a marginally significant moderator in the corresponding longitudinal meta-analysis, but this may be due to a lack of statistical power because of the rather low number of effect sizes.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
62 of 62

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The field has made little progress in identifying the mechanisms of long-term effects of early interpersonal trauma on psychopathology.

    “However, the field has made little progress in identifying the mechanisms of these behavioral effects.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    There are discrepancies in the magnitude of reported associations between rejection sensitivity and mental health problems.

    “However, there are discrepancies in the magnitude of reported associations.”

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The relation between psychological features of situations and behavior is mediated by five types of person variables.

    “The relation between psychological features of situations and behavior is assumed to be mediated by five types of person variables (Mischel, 1973): encoding and construction competencies, expectations and beliefs,”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    It is not known whether rejection sensitivity is related to other negative mental health outcomes such as loneliness and body dysmorphic disorder.

    “However, based on the DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association, 2013), we do not know whether rejection sensitivity is also related to other types of negative mental health outcomes such as loneliness and body dysmorphic disorder.”

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    If effect sizes are symmetrically distributed around the mean effect, the results are not affected by a form of bias.

    “If effect sizes are symmetrically distributed around the mean effect, it is assumed that the results are not affected by a form of bias.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Studies reporting on nonsignificant findings are less likely to be published than studies reporting on significant findings.

    “That is, studies reporting on nonsignificant findings are less likely to be published than studies reporting on significant findings.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The five mental health problems examined in the present study overlap and are comorbid conditions at least to some extent.

    “the five mental health problems examined in the present study may overlap and be comorbid conditions at least to some extent.”
7 of 7

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Statistics recomputed

Every reported test result, recomputed from its test statistic and degrees of freedom. A result shows as not adding up only once an independent check has confirmed it.

  • ConsistentF(2, 76) = 6.756reported p < .01 · recomputed p = .002

    “F(2, 76) = 6.756, p < .01”

1 of 1

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Borderline-personality community correlation is misstated in the results

    Minor

    The results describe the community-sample mean correlation as 0.379, while Table 4 gives its mean correlation as 0.362. The value 0.379 is labeled as the mean Fisher's z in the table.

  • Borderline-personality sample types account for only 30 effect sizes

    Minor

    Table 4 reports 31 effect sizes for the sample-type analysis, but its community, clinical, and mixed categories contain 23, 4, and 3, respectively-a total of 30.

    Reported 31 · recomputed 30

  • Protocol registration number differs from the linked record

    Minor

    The stated PROSPERO registration number ends in 53389, but the linked record ID ends in 53186.

  • Included experimental studies conflict with the description of all studies as non-experimental

    Minor

    The study description says six included studies used experimental designs, whereas the limitations describe the included primary studies as non-experimental. This does not, by itself, establish whether those experiments can support causal conclusions about rejection sensitivity.

4 of 4

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

2 of the 107 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Related

Authors
Gao, S., Assink, M., Cipriani, A., & Lin, K.
Affiliations
  • Guangzhou Medical University (CN)
  • University of Amsterdam (NL)
  • University of Oxford (GB)
Corresponding author
Lin, Kangguang
ORCID
Venue
Clinical Psychology Review
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2017-11
Volume
57
Pages
59-74
ISSN
0272-7358 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.cpr.2017.08.007
OpenAlex
W2746986792
Semantic Scholar
38b52b8c87bfbecd6faaa9a4db551497c54817f6
Cited by
330
References
107
Citations by year
2026: 48 · 2025: 53 · 2024: 58 · 2023: 57 · 2022: 42 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 6
FWCI
1.65
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Clinical Psychology Review (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
Keywords
rejection sensitivity, social rejection, depression, anxiety, loneliness, borderline personality disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, personality traits, gender differences, longitudinal stability, risk assessment, prevention and intervention
MeSH terms
Anxiety Disorders, Borderline Personality Disorder, Depressive Disorder, Humans, Psychological Distance, Body Dysmorphic Disorders

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-11.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-11.

Cited sources are checked by gpt-6-sol.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

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