Shared Pathways Between Rejection Sensitivity and Physical Sensitivities
Presentation Type
Poster
Presentation Type
Submission
Keywords
IPARTheory, pain sensitivity, rejection sensitivity
Department
Psychology
Abstract
Interpersonal rejection sensitivity refers to the heightened tendency to perceive negative or hurtful intent in others' actions, even when no such intent is present (Rohner et al., 2023). To assess this, Rohner and colleagues developed the Interpersonal Rejection Sensitivity Scale, which has shown strong psychometric properties across over 3,000 participants from eight cultures.
The goal of this study was to explore associations between the Interpersonal Rejection Sensitivity Scale and sensitivities to physical symptoms of anxiety, pain, illness, and injury. Research suggests that social and physical pain are influenced by similar neurobiological (e.g., Kross et al., 2011) and immunologic (e.g., Slavich et al., 2010) systems, indicating a shared adaptive function (MacDonald & Leary, 2005).
The study involved 106 participants (68.9% women, 28.3% men, 2.8% non-binary), with an average age of 19.35 years (SD = 1.27), who completed an online survey. They responded to the Interpersonal Rejection Sensitivity Scale (Rohner et al., 2023), Anxiety Sensitivity Index (Reiss et al., 1986), Pain Sensitivity Index (Gross, 1991), and Illness/Injury Sensitivity Index – Revised (Carleton & Asmundson, 2006). Cronbach’s alphas ranged from .89 to .92.
Results showed positive correlations between rejection sensitivity scores and other measures: Anxiety Sensitivity Index (r = .40, p = .000), Pain Sensitivity Index (r = .40, p =.000), Fear of Injury (r = .27, p = .005), and Fear of Illness (r = .35, p = .000).
These findings suggest that social rejection sensitivity is linked to heightened sensitivity to physical symptoms, supporting the idea that social and physical pain share overlapping emotional and neurobiological pathways.
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Carrie Brown
Location
Waves Cafeteria
Start Date
11-4-2025 1:00 PM
End Date
11-4-2025 2:00 PM
Shared Pathways Between Rejection Sensitivity and Physical Sensitivities
Waves Cafeteria
Interpersonal rejection sensitivity refers to the heightened tendency to perceive negative or hurtful intent in others' actions, even when no such intent is present (Rohner et al., 2023). To assess this, Rohner and colleagues developed the Interpersonal Rejection Sensitivity Scale, which has shown strong psychometric properties across over 3,000 participants from eight cultures.
The goal of this study was to explore associations between the Interpersonal Rejection Sensitivity Scale and sensitivities to physical symptoms of anxiety, pain, illness, and injury. Research suggests that social and physical pain are influenced by similar neurobiological (e.g., Kross et al., 2011) and immunologic (e.g., Slavich et al., 2010) systems, indicating a shared adaptive function (MacDonald & Leary, 2005).
The study involved 106 participants (68.9% women, 28.3% men, 2.8% non-binary), with an average age of 19.35 years (SD = 1.27), who completed an online survey. They responded to the Interpersonal Rejection Sensitivity Scale (Rohner et al., 2023), Anxiety Sensitivity Index (Reiss et al., 1986), Pain Sensitivity Index (Gross, 1991), and Illness/Injury Sensitivity Index – Revised (Carleton & Asmundson, 2006). Cronbach’s alphas ranged from .89 to .92.
Results showed positive correlations between rejection sensitivity scores and other measures: Anxiety Sensitivity Index (r = .40, p = .000), Pain Sensitivity Index (r = .40, p =.000), Fear of Injury (r = .27, p = .005), and Fear of Illness (r = .35, p = .000).
These findings suggest that social rejection sensitivity is linked to heightened sensitivity to physical symptoms, supporting the idea that social and physical pain share overlapping emotional and neurobiological pathways.
