Implications of rejection sensitivity for intimate relationships

“This can lead to hasty and inaccurate conclusions about others' intentions, which can be detrimental to relationships (Downey & Feldman, 1996).”

“…terminologies that are often used interchangeably: ‘ rejection-sensitive hysteroid dysphoria ’ (Liebowitz & Klein, 1981); ‘ rejection sensitivity ’ (Downey & Feldman, 1996); ‘ negative interpersonal sensitivity ’ (Boyce & Parker, 1989); and ‘ high fragile self-esteem ’ (Koszegi et al., 2021).”

“Finally, we reviewed research on rejection sensitivity (anxiously anticipating and over-reacting to situations that imply rejection (Downey & Feldman, 1996) because it has been found to be significantly related to insecure attachment (Khoshkam et al., 2012 [Iran]; Set, 2019), and both have been…”

“The current project is the first to assess the novel construct of condom rejection sensitivity as an extension of general interpersonal rejection sensitivity (Downey & Feldman, 1996; Downey et al., 1998) and sexual rejection sensitivity (Cultice et al., 2022).”

“Rejection sensitivity was assessed using the adapted adult version [A-RSQ; 61] of the Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire [62].”

“These findings may be interpreted through rejection sensitivity theory (Downey and Feldman 1996), which explains that experiences of rejection based on one’s ethnic background can make individuals more likely to anxiously expect, readily perceive, and strongly react to further rejection.”

“Downey and Feldman (1996) reported a mean (std. deviation) of 9.69(3.07), an internal consistency reliability of 0.81 and test-retest reliability of 0.83.”

“Even though most studies have used students as samples (Ayduk et al., 2001: Chan & Mendoza-Denton, 2008: Chao et al., 2017; Downey & Feldman, 1996: Mendoza-Denton et al., 2002), the fundamental premise of intercultural rejection sensitivity also seems to be valid, or even more prevalent, in the…”

“…that are based on the situational judgment paradigm, such as the Anger Response Inventory (Tangney et al., 1996), the Liebowitz social anxiety measure (Fresco et al., 2001), and an instrument designed to assess situation-contingent forms of rejection sensitivity (Downey & Feldman, 1996).”

“They show adverse reactions such as anxiety, anxiety, or anger (Downey & Feldman, 1996).”

“This 10-item instrument was inspired by an existing instrument but rewritten to reflect contemporary modes of socializing (Downey & Feldman, 1996).”

“Youth with LOC are especially concerned about rejection [17] and tend to expect being rejected based on one’s own appearance (appearance-based rejection sensitivity; [18, 19]).”

“Other relevant studies have found that people who are highly sensitive to rejection are more likely to perceive others’ ambiguous behaviors as intentional rejections [59] and are more strongly addicted to social media [60].”

“Downey and Feldman (1996) noted that those who score high on rejection sensitivity have a propensity to anxiously expect rejection, readily perceive negative signals (both verbal and non-verbal), and overreact to their spouses while in their relationships.”

“Strong reactions may also be more likely among those with “rejection sensitivity” (Downey & Feldman, 1996).”

“, fears of abandonment and rejection), and rejection sensitivity, tend to experience and express more negative emotions in their romantic relationships, and respond to relationship difficulties by derogating their partners, devaluing their relationships, and enacting destructive behaviors that can undermine their part…”

“…theoretical models suggest that motivations to socially reconnect are contingent on dispositional traits to begin with (Brennan & Bosson, 1998; Downey & Feldman, 1996; Girme et al., 2018; Leary et al., 1995; Murray et al., 2008; Plusnin et al., 2018; Simpson et al., 1996), such as whether…”

“…with the P3 (Gangadhar et al., 1993; Vandoolaeghe et al., 1998), dyadic relationship satisfaction (Spanier, 1976), rejection sensitivity (Downey and Feldman, 1996), relational ambiguity (Vennum and Fincham, 2011) and relationship length in months as a priori selected measures expected…”

“It is a tendency to anxiously expect, vigilantly perceive, and overreact to implicit or explicit signs of rejection (Feldman & Downey, 1996).”

“…with prior work showing that those low in self-esteem are overly attentive in looking for signs of rejection and exceedingly wary in interpreting indications of social acceptance (e.g., Downey & Feldman, 1996; Murray, Holmes, & Griffin, 2000; Nezlek, Kowalski, Leary, Blevins, & Holgate, 1997).”

“Research reveals this scale to be internally consistent with Cronbach’s alpha of .83 (Downey & Feldman, 1996); this value with data from the current study was .78.”

“…parentification, and rejecton sensitivity were measured by the Ambivalence over Emotional Expression Questionnaire (King & Emmons, 1990), the Filial Responsibility Scale-Adult (Jurkovic, Thirkield, & Morrell, 2001), and the Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (Downey & Feldman, 1996), respectively.”

“To summarise, the literature often fails to differentiate between the racism an individual might experience as a member of an ethnic group (Mendoza-Denton, Downey, Purdie, Davis, & Pietrzak, 2002), and that he or she might experience as an individual who is visibly black in relation with others (Branscombe, et al, 199…”

“2018;25:302–315. and interpret others' ambiguous behaviors as indicative of rejection, rather than of benign intentions (Downey & Feldman, 1996).”

“…single, specific category of rejector such as significant others (e.g., Downey, Feldman, & Ayduk, 2000; Downey, Freitas, Michaelis, & Khouri, 1998; Downey & Feldman, 1996; Levy, Ayduk, & Downey, 2001), peers (e.g., Blackhart, Eckel, & Tice, 2007; Lansford, Dodge, Fontaine, Bates, & Pettit, 2014),…”

“Prior research has indicated that the RSQ has excellent internal consistency and test-retest reliability (Berenson et al., 2009; Downey & Feldman, 1996), and Cronbach’s alpha for the RSQ in the present sample was .80.”

“The concept of rejection sensitivity, which originated in the field of psychiatry, refers to a tendency for individuals to anxiously anticipate possible rejection messages from others during interactions, making them more sensitive to rejection cues and overreacting [20–22].”

“Rejection sensitivity, which is defned as the anxious expectation of rejection and a heightened tendency to perceive and interpret ambiguous interpersonal behaviors as rejection, encompasses the affective and behavioral responses of individuals to external stigma [37].”

“Rejection sensitivity describes the tendency to anxiously expect, readily (and unjustifiably) perceive, and react intensively to social rejection (Downey & Feldman, 1996).”

“Individuals can differ in their beliefs about needs following the same level of discrimination (Downey & Feldman, 1996), leading to differences in handling the need.”

“To assess the rejection sensitivity of the participants, eight items from the German translation of the Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (Downey & Feldman, 1996) by Staebler et al. (2011) were used.”

“…hand, prior research indicated that those with a lack of social relationships were less likely to form and maintain strong interpersonal bonds (Alferi et al., 2001; Leary, Twenge, & Quinlivam., 2006; Lee, Draper, & Lee, 2001; Lee & Robbins, 1998; Baumeister & Leary, 1995; Downey & Feldman, 1996).”

“Our other secondary measures included the Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (RSQ; Downey & Feldman, 1996 ) which was used to assess rejection sensitivity (total score: 1 − 36) and demonstrated excellent internal consistencies ( α T0 = 0.92, α T1 = 0.94, α T2 = 0.93).”

“Rejection sensitivity was assessed by the 18-item Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire [25].”

“Rejection sensitivity (RS) is an individual’s tendency or predisposition to expect, perceive and interpret interpersonal interactions as rejection (Downey & Feldman, 1996).”

“In a study of 80 heterosexual couples dating for an average of 17 months (Downey & Feldman, 1996 ), it was found that more rejection sensitive men and women tended to have partners who felt less satisfied in their relationship.”

“When they encounter rejection cues, however minimal or ambiguous, they readily perceive intentional rejection, thereby experiencing feelings of rejection [16,17].”

“…M) [40]. o UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA-3) [41]. o Group Questionnaire (GQ-D) [42]. o Negative Effects Questionnaire (NEQ) [43]. o Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-36) [44]. o Certainty About Mental State Questionnaire (CAMSQ) [45]. o Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (RSQ-20) [46].”

“…distortions can be even more pronounced because frequent negative social experiences may distort individuals’ perceptions and memory, leading them to overreport or misinterpret instances of ostracism (e.g., Baams et al., 2020; Downey & Feldman, 1996; Gardner et al., 2000; Nielsen & Knardahl, 2015).”

“RSQ scores are computed by multiplying the anxiety part of each question by the acceptance part of the question, summing the products across all of the questions and then dividing by the number of questions.”

“…partner was genuinely trying to oppress or victimize him or her, it is at least as likely that the personalizer was oversensitive to negative possibilities (e.g., Downey & Feldman, 1996) and the personalization is an example of communication infidelity, that is, a matter of incompatible framing.”

“…example, adolescents who are rejected by their peers are more likely to anxiously anticipate rejection from romantic partners during early adulthood (Downey & Feldman, 1996), suggesting that negative peer experiences can activate maladaptive cognitions which then translate into romantic contexts.”

“Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (RSQ): The scale was developed by Downey and Feldman (1996).”

“Rejection sensitivity refers to an individual’s anxious expectation of others’ rejection of information in interpersonal relationships, as well as his attention bias and overreaction bias towards people and rejection cues (Downey & Feldman, 1996).”

“However, they also tend to be higher in rejection sensitivity (Brookings et al., 2003; wilhelm et al., 2004) — i.e., the tendency to readily perceive, anxiously expect, and intensely react to cues of rejection (e.g., discrimination) (Downey & Feldman, 1996).”

“The Rejection Sensitivity Scale was developed based on the rejection sensitivity model, referring to the Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (Downey & Feldman, 1996).”

“Rejection sensitivity refers to an individual’s inclination to anticipate and interpret rejection with anxiety or anger, in both obvious and uncertain circumstances 70,71 .”

“Children high in rejection sensitivity are more likely to anticipate rejection and perceive situational cues as rejection [50], which could cause them to approach peers with hostility, making it difficult to build and maintain friendships.”

“Participants also completed a rejection sensitivity measure (Downey & Feldman, 1996; α = .84), which taps chronic concerns about and vigilance for rejection, along with the Ten-Item Personality Inventory (TIPI; Gosling, Rentfrow, & Swann, 2003), which assesses dispositional agreeableness,…”

“Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (RSQ; Downey & Feldman, 1996).”

“Another possibility is that those who perceive themselves as rejected over-react to ambiguous interactions or avoid interactions entirely because of fear of rejection — behaviors which lead to declines in relationship quality in a self-fulfilling prophecy (Downey & Feldman, 1996).”

“A connector’s fear that a prospective contact will reject them can therefore be the source of great anxiety (Downey and Feldman, 1996).”