Old Wounds, New Reactions: The Longitudinal Prediction of Rejection Sensitivity on Reactive Aggression Among Chinese...

Research has established an association between rejection sensitivity and reactive aggression, yet longitudinal studies examining this association among adolescents across general interpersonal contexts are scarce. This study addressed this gap by utilizing a three-wave cross-lagged panel model in a sample of 1,046 Chinese adolescents aged 10-16. Assessments were conducted at three time points within one year, with a six-month interval between each assessment. Findings revealed significant cross-sectional correlations and autoregressive stability for both variables. Notably, cross-lagged analyses indicated that rejection sensitivity consistently predicted increases in reactive aggression over time, suggesting a unidirectional relationship. These results underscore the long-term predictive role of rejection sensitivity in reactive aggression and highlight the need for early interventions to address these adverse effects in adolescents.