Master of Arts, Marietta College, 2018, Psychology

Although lonely individuals experience ostracism fairly often, relatively little research exists on how they respond to it. In what little previous research does exist, ostracism has been found to be an almost universally negative experience for lonely and non-lonely individuals alike. Despite this the current study attempted to explore two different hypothesis that lonely individuals respond differently to ostracism than non-lonely individuals. Specifically, the hypothesis that lonely individuals experience greater social pain in an ambiguous condition that could or could not be seen as ostracism based on their own judgment (the rejection attribution bias), and the hypothesis that lonely individuals might be predisposed to a more generalized sensitivity to social pain based on their previous experiences. The study's findings confirm previous research that explicit ostracism is generally perceived as negative regardless of individual differences such as loneliness, and additionally provided indications in support of both the generalized sensitivity hypothesis and the rejection attribution bias theory in lonely individuals.

Committee: Mark Sibicky (Advisor); Christopher Klein (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, 2022, Psychology

Brief (acute) stress exposure can impair cognitive flexibility—the ability to mentally switch between tasks, rules, or strategies to achieve a goal. However, findings of studies examining the effect of acute stress on cognitive flexibility have been somewhat inconsistent. Individual differences, particularly those that influence the brain and body's response to stress, such as chronic perceptions of stress, may contribute to this inconsistency. The current work aimed to test if two individual difference variables—perceived chronic stress and rejection sensitivity—shift the effect of acute stress on cognitive flexibility. Specifically, I hypothesized that the effect of acute stress on cognitive flexibility would vary as a function of perceived chronic stress. Rejection sensitivity is linked to vigilance to potential threats and may contribute to perceptions of stress. Therefore, I hypothesized that perceived chronic stress would mediate the effect of rejection sensitivity on cognitive flexibility. In Study 1, participants completed a measure of perceived chronic stress and a behavioral task measuring their cognitive flexibility. Participants were then assigned to an acute stress induction or control task before completing the cognitive flexibility task again. In Study 2, women completed a measure of perceived chronic stress and then returned to the lab two weeks later for the acute stress manipulation, after which they completed the cognitive flexibility task. In Study 3, online participants completed measures of rejection sensitivity and perceived chronic stress before completing an acute stress manipulation and cognitive flexibility task. In Studies 1 and 2, acute stress and perceived chronic stress interacted to predict perseverative errors, an indicator of poor cognitive flexibility. Individuals low in perceived chronic stress perseverated less in the control condition than the acute stress condition (Studies 1 and 2). In contrast, those high in perceived chronic (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Vrinda Kalia Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Allison Farrell Ph.D. (Committee Member); Karthik Vishwanath Ph.D. (Committee Member); Jennifer Quinn Ph.D. (Committee Member); Joseph Johnson Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Cognitive Psychology; Experimental Psychology; Psychology

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), Xavier University, 2022, Psychology

More research is needed in order to determine how childhood invalidation may contribute toward the development of borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptoms. Two possible mediators that may explain the relationship between childhood invalidation and BPD symptoms are rejection sensitivity and experiential avoidance. Previous researchers have found rejection sensitivity to mediate the relationship between parental rejection and BPD symptoms (Rosenbach & Renneberg, 2014), and experiential avoidance has consistently been found to be positively associated with BPD symptoms (e.g., Cavicchioli et al., 2015). It is possible that individuals with histories of childhood invalidation by parents may engage in experiential avoidance in order to cope with heightened rejection sensitivity, leading to the symptoms of BPD. The hypothesis for the current study was that childhood invalidation will significantly influence increased rejection sensitivity, which will significantly influence increased experiential avoidance, which then would significantly influence increased BPD symptoms. Using a cross-sectional and correlational design, a sample of 416 individuals ranging from ages 19 to 70 completed self-report measures of mother and father childhood invalidation, rejection sensitivity, experiential avoidance, and BPD symptoms through Amazon's Mechanical Turk (MTurk). The main hypothesis was fully supported in that childhood invalidation by both mother and father significantly influenced rejection sensitivity, which significantly influenced experiential avoidance, which then significantly influenced BPD symptoms. The results of this study highlight how two psychological processes, rejection sensitivity and experiential avoidance, further explain the relationship between childhood invalidation and BPD symptoms.

Committee: Nicholas Salsman Ph.D., ABPP (Advisor); Kathleen Hart Ph.D., ABPP (Committee Member); Christine Dacey Ph.D., ABPP (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology

Master of Arts in Psychology, Cleveland State University, 2021, College of Sciences and Health Professions

The association between experiencing parent-to-child aggression and later dating abuse (DA) in adolescence is well-supported by previous empirical findings and theoretical frameworks, including the intergenerational transmission of violence theory, social learning theory, and relationship continuity theory. Less is known about what underlies this association. Among a sample of high school students, this study tested the hypothesis that rejection sensitivity would mediate between parent-to-child aggression and adolescent DA. Additionally, this study hypothesized that greater self-regulation would buffer the association between rejection sensitivity and adolescent DA. Although rejection sensitivity did not independently mediate between parent-to-child aggression and DA, self-regulation interacted with rejection sensitivity in predicting DA. I found that among respondents with low levels of rejection sensitivity, self-regulatory deficits significantly predicted greater DA, whereas high rejection sensitivity scores were related to higher DA regardless of one's self-regulation scores. These findings suggest that rejection sensitivity and self-regulation are closely related in their association with DA. Assessing for and addressing rejection sensitivity when increasing self-regulation is imperative for DA prevention and intervention.

Committee: Liz Goncy Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Ilya Yaroslavsky Ph.D. (Committee Member); Shereen Naser Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology

Master of Arts (M.A.), University of Dayton, 2019, Psychology, Clinical

Previous research suggests video game use may be detrimental to individuals in many facets of their lives (American Psychiatric Association, 2013; Starcevic, 2013; Kim, Namkoong, Ku, & Kim, 2008; Young, 1999). One such facet is an individual's romantic relationship. However, most research conducted on video game use has compared its effects to gambling addiction or alcohol addiction. This study investigates the partner of those who engage in video game use, specifically how their attachment and sensitivity to rejection may influence how they perceive their partner's engagement in video games, as well as their satisfaction in the relationship. Moderation analyses suggested that attachment and rejection sensitivity do not influence the relationship between an individual's perception of their partner's video game use and their relationship satisfaction.

Committee: Lee Dixon Dr. (Advisor) Subjects: Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2018, Clinical Psychology (Arts and Sciences)

Child maltreatment has been found to increase the risk of psychopathology and maladaptive functioning such as relationship problems (e.g., Larsen, Sandberg, Harper, & Bean, 2011) across multiple developmental stages. Considering that not all individuals with histories of maltreatment develop negative outcomes (e.g., Howell & Miller-Graff, 2014), understanding the process by which factors beyond the experience of maltreatment contribute to the development of social difficulties in young adulthood can be critical for the design of prevention and intervention efforts. Social-cognitive theories point to mechanisms such as rejection sensitivity and emotion dysregulation as potential sources of interpersonal vulnerability. Furthermore, theories of normative development indicate that the timing of child maltreatment may determine the magnitude of deleterious effects. This study was an investigation of the developmental psychopathological pathway between child maltreatment and interpersonal conflict management in young adulthood. The mediating roles of both rejection sensitivity and emotion dysregulation were considered, with findings primarily supporting the former mediation. Additionally, the moderating role of age of onset of child maltreatment was examined within the context of the aforementioned mediation models. None of the moderated mediation hypotheses were confirmed. Research and clinical implications, as well as future directions are discussed.

Committee: Steven Evans (Advisor); Christine Gidycz (Committee Member); Brian Wymbs (Committee Member); Nicholas Allan (Committee Member); Thomas Vander Ven (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology

Master of Arts (M.A.), University of Dayton, 2014, Psychology, Clinical

Self-sacrifice is just one of the many behaviors one can engage in in order to appease his or her partner. However, there is variation across individuals in how satisfying this behavior is. Past research has found that satisfaction with self-sacrifice moderates the association between self-sacrifice and relationship satisfaction; a positive relationship exists between these constructs for those who are more satisfied with self-sacrificing. The goal of the current study was to examine what potential factors could impact one's satisfaction with self-sacrifice, thus influencing the relationship between sacrificing behaviors and relationship satisfaction. While this study did not produce the desired results in terms of replicating past research or showing that an anxious attachment style has an impact on satisfaction with self-sacrifice, one of the correlates of an anxious attachment style, rejection sensitivity, was shown to be significantly related to one's satisfaction with self-sacrifice.

Committee: Lee Dixon Ph.D. (Advisor); Catherine Lutz-Zois Ph.D. (Committee Member); Jackson Goodnight Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology

BA, Kent State University, 0, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychological Sciences

It has been well-documented that physical activity is beneficial to both physical and psychological well-being. However, the mechanisms underlying the relation between physical activity and psychological functioning are not entirely understood. The current study investigated the association between physical activity and emotion-context-sensitivity through examination of both facial behavior and self-report affect during a social rejection and acceptance task. In addition, we investigated the potential mechanism of resting HRV and executive functioning. We were able to show a strong link between physical activity and adaptive negative emotion responsivity. While we did not find evidence for mediation through HRV and executive functioning, we did see linear associations between HRV, executive functioning, and adaptive positive emotion responsivity. This is the first study to document such an association using combined emotion measurements of facial behavior and self-report affect. This study expands upon prior research and provides a good foundation from which future research can build in regards to understanding the interplay between physical activity and emotion-context-sensitivity.

Committee: Karin Coifman (Advisor); Ellen Glickman (Committee Member); Susan Roxburgh (Committee Member); Mary Beth Spitznagel (Committee Member) Subjects: Physiological Psychology; Psychology; Public Health

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 2012, Psychology

Social isolation and exclusion can be detrimental to the individual both psychologically and physically, and it is natural that human beings fear rejection. Rejection Sensitivity (RS) has been conceptualized as the extent to which individuals anxiously expect to be rejected by others in important relationships. High RS has been found to correlate with the presence of interpersonal difficulties. High-RS individuals are likely to perceive rejection in ambiguous behaviors of others and become reactive in response, leading to unstable relationships. Effortful Control (EC), which includes Attentional, Inhibitory, and Activation Control, represents the capacity to override one's automatic tendencies and substitute an adaptive alternative response (Rothbart, 2007). Studies have found that high self-regulatory capacities, such as EC may be protective against the development of psychopathology and interpersonal problems in the case of individuals with high RS. For example, in a cross-sectional study, Ayduk and colleagues (2008) found that RS correlated with BPD symptoms most strongly at low levels of Attentional Control. The aims of the current study were to replicate and extend these findings in several ways. First, the current study was a prospective one assessing whether EC moderates the relationship between RS and change in BPD symptoms over time. Second, the current study investigated whether the interaction of RS by EC predicted specific iii facets of BPD and explored the role of self-reported social support in the relationship between RS and BPD features. Furthermore, a measure of the broader construct of EC was included when assessing self-regulation, evaluating the three facets of EC—Attentional, Activation and Inhibitory Control. Finally, the study investigated whether the RS by EC interaction was predictive of social anxiety and loneliness. A sample of 298 individuals in Psychology 100 at The Ohio State University completed online questionnaires during three time (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Michael Vasey PhD (Advisor); Julian Thayer PhD (Committee Member); Steven Beck PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 2011, Psychology

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious mental health problem, which is associated with high rates of health care utilization and cost (Skodol et al., 2005) and severe functional impairment (Skodol et al., 2002). Although various domains of functioning are affected, interpersonal dysfunction is often cited as central to the disorder (Gunderson, 2007). In addition, interpersonal stress is related to increased likelihood of self-harm (Welch & Linehan, 2002) and has been cited a trigger for suicide attempts (Brodsky, Groves, Oquendo, Mann, & Stanley, 2006). The aim of the present study was to investigate factors contributing to lower quality social networks in BPD. Specifically, we examined whether rejection sensitivity had its impact on social network quality (size, satisfaction, and stability) through interpersonal aggression, and whether BPD features moderated these relations. Participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing interpersonal aggression, BPD features, and rejection sensitivity over one month and provided information about the individuals in their social networks and characteristics of those relationships. As hypothesized, rejection sensitivity exerted an indirect effect on social network satisfaction through interpersonal aggression. However, this effect was not conditional upon levels of BPD symptoms. BPD features at baseline were related to some indices of instability, such as having cut off speaking to partners in one's network at one month, and markers of network quality such as, closeness, and support among the partners listed in one's network at one month.

Committee: Jennifer S. Cheavens (Advisor); Daniel R. Strunk (Committee Member); Michael W. Vasey (Committee Member) Subjects: Personality Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, 2010, Psychology

Some research indicates that social rejection leads to increased pain sensitivity, whereas other work indicates that rejection causes physical-pain numbing. This research sought to examine potential moderators and mediators of these effects. In Study 1, the paradigm used to manipulate social rejection was found to be a moderator of the social rejection-pain sensitivity relationship: Cyberball rejection led to pain hypersensitivity whereas future-life rejection led to pain numbing. The former was fully mediated by threats to belonging. In Study 2, I further examined why the rejection paradigm itself acts as a moderator. I speculated that future-life rejection may be a much more intense experience than is a Cyberball rejection and that more intense social rejection experiences might lead to numbing whereas less intense manipulations might lead to hypersensitivity. In Study 2, I subjected participants to either the standard future-life rejection manipulation or a newly-created less-intense version. Supporting my hypothesis, the standard (highly intense) future-life rejection led to physical pain numbing, whereas the less-intense future-life rejection resulted in hypersensitivity. Implications of these results for understanding the rejection-pain relation and other rejection effects are discussed.

Committee: Heather Claypool PhD (Committee Chair); Kurt Hugenberg PhD (Committee Member); Allen McConnell PhD (Committee Member); Bruce Cochrane PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology

Master of Arts, Miami University, 2007, Psychology

Because dating violence is a pervasive and significant problem among adolescents, researchers have begun investigating the various relational processes and gender dynamics that are associated with it. Two relational constructs that have particular significance for predicting adolescent dating violence are rejection sensitivity and relational insecurity. This study tested whether relational insecurity mediated the relationship between rejection sensitivity and perpetration and victimization of dating violence in a sample of male and female adolescents. Results indicated that, for both males and females, relational insecurity fully mediated the relationship between rejection sensitivity and dating violence perpetration, but not the relationship between rejection sensitivity and dating violence victimization. Implications of these findings for theory and intervention are presented, along with directions for future research.

Committee: Patricia Kerig (Advisor) Subjects: