Peer rejection as a social antecedent to rejection sensitivity in youth: The role of relational valuation

Although much is known about the consequences of rejection sensitivity (RS), less is known about its social antecedents, particularly during development. Despite research demonstrating the role of peer rejection in the development and maintenance of problematic social schema like RS, little is known about why some youth are more susceptible to these negative consequences than others. We examined how relational valuation might moderate the effects of peer rejection on RS in a sample of 294 youth (138 boys) who made the transition from middle to high school. Results from path analysis revealed that 8th grade peer rejection was most highly associated with 9th grade RS for youth who held high regard for social relationships. Findings demonstrate the importance of examining cognitive moderators in the links between negative social experiences and problematic social schema, and highlight the need to move beyond simple main effects models for understanding the heterogeneity of rejection.

► Peer rejection was positively associated with rejection sensitivity (RS) in adolescents.
► Youth’s relational valuation was a significant moderator.
► Peer rejection was most associated with RS among youth who held high regard for social relationships.