Psychometric Properties of an Adapted Yemeni Version of Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire

Rejection sensitivity is a predisposition to anxiously expect, perceive, and strongly react to rejection. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the adapted Yemeni version of rejection sensitivity questionnaire (Y-RSQ). The social anxiety (SA) questionnaire was used as a criterion for determining the validity of the Y-RSQ. The questionnaires were completed by a sample of 571 Yemeni students (males and females) at Sana'a University. The overall reliability of the Y-RSQ is 0.82, which indicates that 67% of the explained variance in observed total scores is due to the common factors. A Pearson product moment correlation was performed between the Y-RSQ and social anxiety scores. The analysis indicated a moderate, but significant positive relationship between Y-RSQ and social anxiety (r = 0.50, p < 0.01). The findings of the confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the structure of the Y-RSQ factors could be explained by a bifactor model in which rejection sensitivity is the general factor and two group factors, namely rejection anxiety and rejection expectancy. The findings suggested that the construct validity of the Y-RSQ is acceptable and the way people understand and respond to rejection signs varies due to bias caused by rejection anxiety and expectation of rejection. This study provided psychologists, scholars, and counsellors with a Yemeni culture-based instrument that can help them measure rejection sensitivity among the Yemenis.