Rejection Sensitivity on Social Networking Sites: How It Differently Impacts Late Adolescents’ Positive and Negative Affect

Abstract

Rejection sensitivity online was prevalent among adolescents that was potential risk factor for affect. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between rejection sensitivity on networking sites and sentimental responses through self-assesion and self-esteem respectively and the sequential mediated effect both of them, the research also tested the moderated role of gender. There were 823 adolescents included in this research. They completed a questionnaire packages consisting of 4 scales. The findings indicated that adolescents’ emotional responses to rejection sensitivity on networking sites was significant, the mediating model was remarkable through self-assesion and significant sequential mediated effect both of self-assesion and self-esteem for affect among girls but not boys, however, rejection sensitivity on social networking sites was directly related to negative affect among boys, gender played a moderating role in the relationship between rejection sensitivity on social networking sites and positive affect/negative affect respectively, boys were sensitive to negative affect but girls were sensitive to both of positive and negative affect and boys responsed to stimulus slightly than girls. The findings provided a new insight to the prevention and intervention for the negative affect and improvement for positive affect among adolescents. The implication of the conclusions for understanding and counteracting rejection sensitivity on networking sites were discussed.