The Effects of High Rejection Sensitivity on the Cardiovascular System
Kulwinder Singh
Mentor: Sally Dickerson
Research has consistently shown that numerous psychosocial risk factors (i.e. anxiety, hostility,
depression) hasten the onset and progression of cardiovascular disease. Psychosocial risk factors are
known to enhance cardiovascular reactivity, one of many proposed mechanisms leading to the
development of cardiovascular disease. In this study, we examined whether cardiovascular reactivity
serves as a mediating mechanism through which rejection sensitivity affects cardiovascular disease.
Rejection sensitivity is a dispositional trait that is characteristic of one who anxiously expects,
perceives, and strongly reacts to rejection. Research has shown that individuals who are high in
rejection sensitivity have at some point in their lives (most likely early childhood) experienced
rejection at the hands of people they care about. Individuals who are high in rejection sensitivity
anticipate rejection, are more prone to interpersonal conflict, and show higher levels of emotional
arousal. At the core of these individuals is a manifestation of fear and doubt about gaining the
acceptance and respect of others. This can lead to lower quality of interpersonal relationships.
Individuals who expect rejection act in more hostile and aggressive ways in their interpersonal
relationships, which contributes to behavior that results in degradation of relationship quality and
sense of well being. Results indicate that compared to low-rejection sensitive individuals, participants
high in rejection sensitivity reported significantly more negative emotion, were heavier, and had
higher trait anxiety. During the task, high-rejection sensitive individuals reported more shame,
embarrassment, humiliation, self-consciousness and increased stupidity. They also perceived the task
to be more threatening and stressful, and rated their overall performance as lower. This research
supports existing literature and serves as an accurate personality profile of high rejection-sensitive
individuals.