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Published on: February 22, 2018
Rejection sensitivity and depressive symptoms: Longitudinal actor-partner effects in adolescent romantic
Jerika C Norona1, Patricia N E Roberson1, Deborah P Welsh1
1Department of Psychology, 305 Austin Peay Building, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-0900, USA.
Abstract:
The present study utilizes the actor-partner interdependence model to examine the longitudinal relationship between rejection sensitivity and one's own and one's partner's depressive symptoms. The sample included adolescent romantic couples from the U.S. (N = 198 adolescents; 50% girls; 90.2% Caucasian) whose rejection sensitivity at Time 1 and depressive symptoms approximately one year later (Time 2) were assessed. Additionally, aggressive behaviors and maintenance behaviors that commonly associated with rejection sensitivity (e.g., self-silencing) are explored as mediators. Results indicate that boyfriends' rejection sensitivity at Time 1 predicted girlfriends' depressive symptoms at Time 2. Additionally, girls' rejection sensitivity predicted their own and their boyfriends' self-silencing. Developmental and clinical implications are discussed.
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