Rejection Sensitivity and Reactive Aggression in Early Adults: The Mediating Role of Loneliness and Maladaptive Coping

Abstract

Reactive aggression is an aggressive response to a perceived threat or provocation. It has detrimental effects on individuals and society. Rejection sensitivity, a disposition that one tends to anxiously expect, readily perceive, and intensely react to social rejection, has been associated with reactive aggression. Considering that the mechanism underlying this link remains unclear, this study explores the mediating role of loneliness and maladaptive coping. Participants included 1104 early adults between the ages of 17–23 ( Mage = 20.35, SD = 1.11, 33.6% men) in China who completed the Chinese version of the Tendency to Expect Rejection Scale, Loneliness Scale, Ways of Coping Questionnaire, and Reactive-Active Aggression Questionnaire. The serial mediation model revealed that loneliness and maladaptive coping independently mediated the association of rejection sensitivity with reactive aggression. More importantly, the chain mediating effect of “loneliness-maladaptive coping” also accounted for this link. The above findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the relationships among these factors and suggested that rejection sensitivity could positively be related to reactive aggression through loneliness and maladaptive coping.

The relationship between loneliness and problematic smartphone use among adolescents during the COVID‐19 pandemic: The mediating role of negative emotions and maladaptive coping

“…This study also provided evidence that maladaptive coping might mediate the link between loneliness and problematic smartphone use among Chinese adolescents during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Loneliness has regularly been shown to predict maladaptive coping in past studies (Chen et al, 2019; Du et al, 2022), which might be because of the perceived deficit in interpersonal relationships experienced by lonely individuals (Mansfield et al, 2021; Perlman, 2004). High‐quality social support from interpersonal relationships is essential for fostering adaptive coping strategies (Li & Peng, 2021; Yang et al, 2022).…”

The rejection sensitivity and problematic internet use among medical students: A moderated mediation model involving loneliness and self-control

“…Previous study found that individuals with high rejection sensitivity often generate negative emotions such as hostility in social interactions and tend to adopt avoidance coping strategies, negatively impacting the establishment and maintenance of positive interpersonal relationships [23], leading to the experience of loneliness [24]. Therefore, individuals with elevated rejection sensitivity demonstrate increased levels of loneliness [25].…”