Objective: The study aimed to investigate the relationship between rejection sensitivity and cyber-ostracism, as well as the mediating role of self-affirmation in this relationship.
Methods: A total of 230 university student participants were recruited through convenience sampling on social media platforms in November 2024. Participants completed questionnaires including the Rejection Sensitivity Scale, the Self-affirmation Subscale of General Health Questionnaire-20 (GHQ-20), and the Cyber-ostracism Questionnaire for college students on the Questionnaire Star platform. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, difference test, and mediation analysis were conducted.
Results: (1) Rejection sensitivity, self-affirmation, and cyber-ostracism were significantly correlated with each other. (2) Both rejection sensitivity and self-affirmation showed significant gender differences. (3) After controlling for gender, rejection sensitivity not only positively predicted cyber-ostracism (β = 0.258,95% CI: 0.110 to 0.324), but also indirectly increased it by decreasing self-affirmation (β = 0.114,95% CI: 0.049 to 0.153), with this indirect effect accounting for 44.2% of the total effect.
Conclusion: Rejection sensitivity and self-affirmation are significant factors influencing undergraduates' cyber-ostracism. Self-affirmation plays a mediating role between rejection sensitivity and cyber-ostracism.
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