Rejection sensitivity and interpersonal problems

Philipp Wülfing

doi:10.1007/s00278-026-00833-5

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Rejection sensitivity and interpersonal problems

2026-02-01

DOI：10.1007/s00278-026-00833-5

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Abstract

En 中文

Background Rejection sensitivity (RS) refers to the anxious expectation and heightened perception as well as the intense reaction to rejection and is associated with interpersonal problems. Findings from nonclinical samples link RS primarily to a socially avoiding interpersonal style, whereas data from clinical populations are lacking. Objective This study examines the association between RS and interpersonal problems in psychosomatic-psychotherapeutic patients, taking psychopathology and gender differences into account. Method The patients (N = 392) completed standardized self-report procedures, including the short versions of the Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (RSQ-9), the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-32) and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-18, psychological distress). Based on a median split of the RSQ-9, groups with high and low RS were formed. The structural summary method was applied to examine the association between RS and interpersonal styles. Results The high-RS group showed a clearly structured pattern of interpersonal difficulties characterized by submissive and insecure behavior. In the low-RS group no prototypical profile emerged due to an insufficient model fit. Gender analyses revealed similar structures within the high-RS group. Discussion High RS was associated with a pattern of self-doubt and withdrawal. Theoretical assumptions and previous results were confirmed for the first time in a clinical population and highlight RS as an important transdiagnostic characteristic that is associated with dysfunctional interaction styles.

Keywords:

Interpersonal relations

Mental disorders

Sex factors

Interpersonal circumplex

Interpersonal relations

Mental disorders

Sex factors

Interpersonal circumplex

Structural

summary method