On‐line ostracism affects children differently from adolescents and adults
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This research examines adults', and for the first time, children's and adolescents' reaction to being ostracized and included, using an on‐line game, ‘Cyberball’ with same and opposite sex players. Ostracism strongly threatened four primary needs (esteem, belonging, meaning, and control) and lowered mood among 8‐ to 9‐year‐olds, 13‐ to 14‐year‐olds, and adults. However, it did so in different ways. Ostracism threatened self‐esteem needs more among 8‐ to 9‐year‐olds than older participants. Among 13‐ to 14‐year‐olds, ostracism threatened belonging more than other needs. Belonging was threatened most when ostracism was participants' first experience in the game. Moreover, when participants had been included beforehand, ostracism threatened meaning needs most strongly. Gender of other players had no effect. Practical and developmental implications for social inclusion and on‐line experiences among children and young people are discussed.
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After being excluded in Cyberball, children, adolescents and adults consistently report heightened distress in the form of higher negative mood and decreased satisfaction of the need to belong, control, self-esteem, and meaningful existence.
“After being ostensibly excluded by two peers in Cyberball, children, adolescents and adults consistently report heightened levels of distress in the form of higher levels of negative mood (e.g., sadness and anger) and a decreased satisfaction of the need to belong, the need for control, self-esteem, and the need for a meaningful existence”
From Chronic Childhood Peer Rejection is Associated with Heightened Neural Responses to Social Exclusion During Adolescence (2016) · cites this paper as Abrams et al. 2011
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Social Media Use and Social Connectedness in Adolescents: The Positives and the Potential Pitfalls
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- Authors
- Abrams, D., Weick, M., Thomas, D., Colbe, H., & Franklin, K. M.
- Affiliations
- University of Kent (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Abrams, Dominic
- Venue
- British Journal of Developmental Psychology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2011-02-03
- Volume
- 29
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 110-123
- ISSN
- 0261-510X (ISSN-L)
- 2044-835X
- OpenAlex
- W2127590348
- Cited by
- 134
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 7.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Locations
- British Journal of Developmental Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Durham Research Online (Durham University) (acceptedVersion)
- Durham Research Online (Durham University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Kent Academic Repository (University of Kent) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Keywords
- ostracism, Cyberball, children, adolescents, adults, self-esteem, sense of belonging, meaning, need for control, mood, social inclusion, online games, developmental differences
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Affect, Age Factors, Child, Female, Humans, Male, Peer Group, Rejection, Psychology, Self Concept, Sex Factors, Social Identification, Social Support, Video Games, Internet, Young Adult
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