1. ABSTRACT This poster examined the link between rejection sensitivity, self-silencing behaviors, and depressive symptomatology among middle and late adolescent dating couples. Three hypotheses were examined: 1) adolescents who possess expectations of rejection will be more likely to use self-silencing mechanisms in their romantic relationships; 2) self-silencing behaviors will be likely to elicit depressive symptoms in adolescents who are sensitive to rejection, and 3) self-silencing will be the process mediating the association between rejection sensitivity and depression. Support was found for all three hypotheses.

2. INTRODUCTION Rejection sensitivity has been associated with depressive symptomatology among college- aged women (Ayduk, Downey, & Kim, 2001). Individuals who are sensitive to rejection may demonstrate self-sabotaging behaviors, such as self-silencing, to maintain intimate relationships (Purdie & Downey, 2000). Self-silencing within a relationship has been linked to a loss of self (Jack, 1991) and depressive symptomatology (Harper, Welsh, Grello, & Dickson, in review).

3. HYPOTHESES Dating adolescents who are sensitive to rejection will be more likely to report depressive symptoms compared to dating adolescents who are less sensitive to rejection. Dating adolescents who possess expectations of rejection will be more likely to use self- silencing mechanisms in their romantic relationships compared to dating adolescents who do not possess rejection expectations. Self-silencing will be the process mediating the association between rejection sensitivity and depression.

4. METHOD Data are from the Study of Tennessee Adolescent Romantic Relationships (STARR; Welsh, 1999) 51 middle (ages 14-17) and 93 late (ages 17-21) adolescent dating couples Participants completed self-report questionnaires as part of a larger study. Mediational models were tested using the Z’ method (MacKinnon, Lockwood, Hoffman, West, & Sheets, 2002).

5. MEASURES Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (RSQ; Downey & Feldman, 1996) - Rejection anxiety: “How concerned or anxious would you be over whether or not your boyfriend would want to see you?” - Rejection expectation: “I would expect that he would want to see me.” - alpha for males =.86; alpha for females =.91

6. MEASURES Silencing the Self (STSS; Jack, 1991) - measures self-silencing behaviors in relationships - “I don’t speak my feelings in an intimate relationship when I know they will cause disagreement.” - alpha for males =.75 ; alpha for females =.79

7. MEASURES Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD; Radloff, 1977) - measures depressive symptoms in past 2 wks - “I had crying spells.” - alpha for males =.85; alpha for females =.87

8. CORRELATIONS Rejection Sensitivity Self Silencing CES-D Rejection Sensitivity.236**.384** Self Silencing.313**.309** CES-D.468**.291** Legend Males Females

9. RESULTS Hypothesis 1: Rejection sensitivity predicted depressive symptoms for both males (r 2 =.14, p <.001) and for females (r 2 =.21, p <.001). Hypothesis 2: Rejection sensitivity predicted self- silencing behaviors for both males (r 2 =.05, p <.01) and for females (r 2 =.09, p <.001). Hypothesis 3: Self-silencing mediated the relationship between rejection sensitivity and depressive symptoms for both males (see Fig. 1) and females (see Fig. 2).

10. Figure 1 Mediational Model for Males Rejection Sensitivity Depression ß = 1.014** Rejection Sensitivity Depression Self- Silencing ß = 0.484** ß = 0.295** ß =.871** Sobel Test = 2.06 (p <.05).

11. Figure 2 Mediational Model for Females Rejection Sensitivity Depression ß = 1.119** Rejection Sensitivity Depression Self- Silencing ß = 1.014** ß = 0.236** ß = 0.992** Sobel Test = 1.92 (p <.05).

12. DISCUSSION Dating adolescents who are rejection-sensitive report more depressive symptoms compared to dating adolescents who are not sensitive to rejection. Dating adolescents who are sensitive to rejection are more likely to use self-silencing behaviors than dating adolescents who are less sensitive to rejection. Self-silencing partially mediates the relationship between rejection sensitivity and depressive symptomatology among middle and late adolescent dating couples. There are additional unidentified mediators.