Rejection Sensitivity-Race Questionnaire

"Triggers": systematic and social cues for black college student racial self-consciousness and rejection sensitivity, race-based.

“…Findings show that black students at historically white colleges and universities display lower academic and social performance when experiencing high levels of rejection sensitivity (Lett & Wright, 2003;Smith & Hopkins, 2004;Boyraz, et al, 2013;Henson, et al, 2013;Mendoza-Denton, et al, 2008). In line with previous research on rejection sensitivity (Mendoza-Denton et al, 2002), the purpose of the current study is to discover how systemic factors associated with the campus climates of colleges and universities impact four interrelated RS-race processes among black students, and how these four processes trigger students' RSC levels.…”

“…As noted above, students' racial discrimination experiences, and perceptions of institutional commitments to diversity, black student visibility, and racial separation on campus serve as four proximate measures for RS-race processes associated with the campus climate. Previous studies suggest that discrimination experiences (Wu, Lyons, & Leong, 2015) and perceptions of policies to address racial discrimination and inequality on campus (Brannon & Taylor, 2015;Henson, Derlega, & Pearson, 2013;Mendoza-Denton, Downey, Purdie, Davis, & Piertzak, 2002) can influence RS-race levels among black students, which then could trigger their RSC levels. However, although other studies suggest additional aspects of campus experiences can influence students RS-race and RSC levels (Jackson, Sweeney, & Welcher, 2014;Karkouti, 2016;Koehler, & Skvoretz, 2010), little research exists on how students' perceptions of racial separation and black students' visibility can influence these levels.…”

“…Scholars first addressed rejection sensitivity based on personality (Downey and Feldman, 1996), and later applied the phenomenon to status-based factors such as race. Mendoza-Denton et al (2002) theorized RS-race in their observations of African American students attending historically white colleges and universities (HWCUs). From this phenomenon, self-esteem (Mendoza-Denton, et al, 2010) and interracial relationships (Page-Gould et al, 2014) were added to the literature.…”

“…The experiences and perceptions of racial discrimination on college campuses is arguably the most direct connection to RS-race processes that can trigger RSC levels among students. Previous RS-race studies often ask for students to reflect on hypothetical experiences when they may worry about being racially discriminated against (see Mendoza-Denton, et al, 2008, 2002Page Gould, et al 2014). Thus, the campus-based experiences and perceptions of discrimination provides a direct measure of how RS-race functions for black students pursuing their degrees.…”

Counteracting Othering: Increasing Belonging & Curiosity to Improve Student Success

“…When students feel they do not belong, research shows that they may disengage and lose the motivation and confidence to persist, ultimately discontinuing their studies (Hausmann et al, 2007;Mendoza-Denton, Downey-Purdie, Davis, & Pietrzak, 2002).…”