Rejection sensitivity in adolescents with major depression

Objective: Rejection sensitivity (RS) is defined as the disposition to anxiously expect rejection, to perceive it as likely, and to overreact to it. Former studies showed heightened RS in clinically depressed adults and identified it as a predictor for symptoms of depression in adolescents. However, to date there are no studies examining RS as a disposition in adolescents with clinical depression. Method: In the present study, we compared differences in RS and behavioral intentions in depressive and healthy adolescents after a rejection situation. We included n = 28 adolescents with depression and n = 32 healthy control participants between the ages of 12-17 and applied a German version of the Children's Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire "CRSQ". Results: It was found that, compared to controls, depressive adolescents show higher RS, are more anxious about rejection, and rate the likelihood of being rejected higher. Furthermore, adolescents with depression more often indicated to resign to rejection and blame themselves for it than their healthy counterparts. Conclusions: Our results are in concordance with the clinical picture and with cognitive theories of the disorder. In future studies, it would be important to examine whether corresponding interventions can have a positive impact on the course of the disease.