adolescent romantic relationships: the impact of rejection sensitivity and the moderating role of...
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Adolescent Romantic Relationships: The Impact of Rejection Sensitivity
and the Moderating Role of
Attachment Security
By: Emily Marston, Amanda Hare, Erin Miga, Meredyth Evans and Joseph P. Allen
We would like to thank the National Institute of Mental Health for funding awarded to Joseph P Allen, Principal Investigator, (Grants #R01-MH58066) for the conduct and write-up of this study.
Abstract
Research indicates that rejection sensitivity and attachment
security play important roles in romantic relationship functioning.
This study utilizes multi-informant data to examine the longitudinal
associations between rejection sensitivity and romantic
relationship quality as well as the moderating impact of attachment
security. Data were collected from a diverse sample of 184
adolescents. Regression analyses indicated that rejection
sensitivity was related to higher levels of anxious romantic
attachment styles. While rejection sensitivity negatively impacted
future romantic relationship quality, attachment security appeared
to buffer teens from these negative outcomes. Findings suggest
that rejection sensitivity is an important cognitive-affective
mechanism in the development of adolescent romantic
relationships.
Rejection Sensitivity and Attachment
What is Rejection Sensitivity? The disposition to anxiously expect, readily
perceive, and intensely react to social rejection (Downey & Feldman, 1996)
How does Rejection Sensitivity relate to Attachment Security? Rejection sensitivity research draws upon
attachment theory and views behavior patterns as reflections of internal working models of relationships that incorporate expectations about rejection (Bowlby, 1969; Sroufe, 1990).
Research on Romantic Relationships
How does rejection sensitivity concurrently relate to functioning in romantic relationships?
↑Rejection Sensitivity → ↓ Overall satisfaction
↓ Emotionally Supportive Behaviors
↑ Break-ups
How does attachment security relate to functioning in romantic relationships?
↑ Attachment Security → ↑ Commitment, Trust and
Satisfaction
↑ Conflict Resolution
↑ Overall Competence in Romantic
Relationships
(Downey & Feldman, 1996; Downey, Freitas, Michaelis & Khouri, 1998 )
(Duemmler, 2001; Engels, 2001, Simpson, 1990; Simpson, Collins & Tran, 2007; Williams & Risking, 2004)
Research Questions
1) Is rejection sensitivity related to adolescent attachment style in romantic relationships?
2) How does adolescent rejection sensitivity impact future romantic relationship functioning?
3) Do secure states of mind regarding attachment prospectively moderate the relationship between adolescent rejection sensitivity and romantic relationship functioning?
Participants
o Multi-method, multi-reporter data were collected from a 184 adolescents (48% Male)
o Community-based sample from Small Urban Area
o Socio-Economically Diverse (Median Family Income = $40,000-$60,000 range)
o 43% African-American; 57% European American
o Time 1: Teen’s Mean age = 14 (SD=.77) o Time 2: Teen’s Mean age = 16 (SD=.90) o Time 3: Teen’s Mean age = 18 (SD=1.30)o Time 3: Romantic Partner’s Mean age = 19 (SD=3.08)
Measures
Attachment Security (Time 1: Age=14) Adult Attachment Interview: (AAI: George, Kaplan & Main, 1995).
I hour semi-structured interview
3 scales: Secure, Preoccupied and Dismissing Attachment
o Rejection Sensitivity (Time 2: Age = 16)
Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire: (RSQ: Downey & Feldman, 1996).
o 18-item self-report measure assessing adolescent’s level of rejection
sensitivity.o Scenarios are rated on two dimensions:
• the degree of anxiety or concern about the outcome• the expectations of acceptance or rejection.
Measures
Teen Romantic Attachment Style
(Time 3: Age=18)
Experiences in Close Relationships: (Brennan, Clark & Shaver, 1998)
Self-report of teen’s emotional and behavioral style in romantic relationships
Anxious Attachment:
• “I want to get very close to my partner, and this sometimes scares people away.”
Avoidant Attachment:
• “I am nervous when anyone gets too close, and often, others want me to be more intimate than I feel comfortable being.”
Measures
Teen and Romantic Partner’s Romantic Relationship Functioning (Time 3: Age=18)
Relationship Experiences Questionnaire: (Levesque, 1993)
Passion ex: “I get romantically excited just thinking about him/her.”
Support ex: “I help my partner through difficult times.”
Togetherness ex: “I am happiest when we’re together.”
Network of Relationship Inventory: (Furman, 1996)
Affection ex: “How much does this person like or love you?”
Higher levels of teen’s rejection sensitivity (16)
predicted higher levels of ANXIOUS ATTACHMENT
STYLE in romantic relationships (18).
*** p < .001. ** p < .01. * p < .05.
Note: Target adolescent age at time of assessment is in parentheses.
Beta weights are presented covarying for gender and minority (not depicted
Teen’sRejection Sensitivity
Attachment Security
AGE 14 AGE 16 AGE 18
Anxious RomanticAttachment
Style
-.08
-.06
.46***
Total R² = 23***
Teen’s with higher levels of rejection sensitivity at
16 had Romantic Partners who reported
experiencing less AFFECTION in their romantic
relationship at 18.
*** p < .001. ** p < .01. * p < .05.
Note: Target adolescent age at time of assessment is in parentheses.
Beta weights are presented covarying for gender and minority (not depicted
Teen’s Rejection Sensitivity
Attachment Security
AGE 14 AGE 16 AGE 18
Romantic Partner’s Report of Affection
-.08
-.16
-.27**
Total R² = 12**
Teen’s with higher levels of rejection sensitivity at
16 had Romantic Partners who reported
experiencing less TOGETHERNESS in their
romantic relationship at 18.
*** p < .001. ** p < .01. * p < .05.
Note: Target adolescent age at time of assessment is in parentheses.
Beta weights are presented covarying for gender and minority (not depicted
Teen’s Rejection Sensitivity
Attachment Security
AGE 14 AGE 16 AGE 18
Romantic PartnerReport of
Togetherness
-.08
-.01
-.33*
Total R² = 12**
Teen’s attachment security (14) appears to buffer the
negative effects of Teen’s rejection sensitivity (16) on their
reports of PASSION in romantic relationships (18).
-1
-0.8
-0.6
-0.4
-0.2
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
Low High
Tn Rejection Sensitivity at 16
Tn
Rep
ort
of
Pass
ion
at
18
High Teen Security
Low Teen Security
Teen’s attachment security (14) appears to buffer the negative
effects of Teen’s Rejection Sensitivity (16) on their reports of
SUPPORT in romantic relationships (18).
-1
-0.8
-0.6
-0.4
-0.2
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
Low High
Rejection Sensitivity at 16
Teen
Rep
ort
of S
up
po
rt at
18 High Teen Security
Low Teen Security
Conclusions
Teen’s high in rejection sensitivity at 16 are more likely to have an anxious attachment styles in romantic relationships at 18.
Teen’s rejection sensitivity at 16 appears to negatively impact future romantic relationships.
Romantic Partners reported experiencing less affection and togetherness in their relationships with Teen’s high in rejection sensitivity.
Teens high in rejection sensitivity also reported experiencing less passion and support in their relationships.
Secure states of mind regarding attachment at 14 buffered the negative effects of teen’s rejection sensitivity at 16 on their reports of romantic relationship quality at 18.
For teens with a secure state of mind regarding attachment, rejection sensitivity has a diminished to negligible effect on future romantic relationships.
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