SELF-SILENCING, REJECTION SENSITIVITY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL MALADJUSTMENT IN ADOLESENCTS

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.