Rejection Sensitivity, Self-Efficacy, and Learning Strategy: Mediating and Moderating the Role of Basic Needs Satisfaction

Miki Terada,Taishi Kawamoto

doi:10.4236/psych.2017.83028

Abstract

Rejection sensitive people often experience interpersonal difficulties, resulting in dissatisfaction with their need for relatedness. However, whether they are satisfied with their autonomy and competence, or experience difficulties from these factors other than in interpersonal relationships, remains largely unexplored. This study examined the influence of rejection sensitivity and need satisfaction (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) on learning strategy and self-efficacy. We found that competence satisfaction mediates the relationship between rejection sensitivity and self-efficacy. In addition, hierarchical regression analysis revealed a significant three-way interaction of rejection sensitivity, autonomy, and competence satisfaction with learning strategy. Competence satisfaction has a positive effect when individuals have low rejection sensitivity and are satisfied with autonomy need, whereas autonomy satisfaction has a positive effect when individuals have high rejection sensitivity and are dissatisfied with their competence levels. This suggests that autonomy and competence satisfaction levels are important for the understanding of psychological difficulties in rejection sensitive individuals.

Highlights

Interpersonal relationships and learning are important aspects of school life for university students
This study examined the influence of rejection sensitivity and need satisfaction on learning strategy and self-efficacy
We found that competence satisfaction mediates the relationship between rejection sensitivity and self-efficacy

Summary

Introduction

Interpersonal relationships and learning are important aspects of school life for university students. People with high rejection sensitivity—characterized as anxious expectation of and defensive reaction to social rejection Kawamoto 450 man, 1996)—tend to experience psychological difficulties. How can they spend their school life successfully, especially in relation to learning? This research approaches how rejection sensitivity is related to learning with need satisfaction. We sought to develop our understanding of the difficulties rejection sensitive individuals have in these situations by focusing on learning strategy and self-efficacy. We focused on the possible mediating roles of need satisfaction on the relationships between rejection sensitivity and learning strategy/self-efficacy. We investigated the possible moderating role of rejection sensitivity on the relationship between satisfaction of needs and learning strategy/self-efficacy

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