Abstract:
Abstract
The present study intended to find out the relationship between self-silencing, rejection
sensitivity (RS), psychological maladjustment (depression, anxiety, loneliness), social
support including parental and peer support in adolescents. Self- silencing and rejection
sensitivity would positively predict psychological maladjustment (depression, anxiety
and loneliness) in adolescents. Self –silencing and rejection sensitivity would negatively
predict social support (peer and parental) in adolescents. Correlational research design
was used. The sample consist of N = 400 adolescents having age range of (11 to 17)
which were selected using purposive sampling technique, sample was collected from
public and private schools and colleges. The Children-Rejection Sensitivity
Questionnaire (Downey et. al, 1997), The Silencing the Self-Scale (Jack, D. C., & Dill,
D. (1992) and Network of Relationships Inventory- Behavioral Systems Version (NRI BSV) (Furman & Buhrmester, 2009), Depression Anxiety Stress Scales – Short Form
(DASS-21) (Lovibond, 1995). UCLA loneliness scale version 3 (Russell, 1996) was used
for data collection. Data was analyzed using SPSS (version 21). A Pearson correlation
analysis was conducted to examine the strength and direction of associations between the
variables. Additionally, Multiple regression analysis was performed to assess the
predictive ability of self-silencing and rejection sensitivity (anxious and angry
expectations of rejection) on psychological maladjustment (depression, anxiety,
loneliness) and parental and peer support and a T-test was carried out for gender analysis.
The results indicated that majority of the variables significantly predicted the expected
outcome and proved the hypothesis above. These findings provide valuable insights into
some adolescent’s mental health and future interventions related to these issues.
