The Relationship Between Interpersonal Sensitivity and Emotion Regulation in Youths

Abstract: Background: In clinical psychology, interpersonal sensitivity is defined as a vulnerability to perceived signs of rejection in interpersonal situations; it plays an important role in the development of psychopathology, especially mood disorders. We investigated the relationship between interpersonal sensitivity, emotion-regulation strategies, and emotional reactivity in a group of youths without mental health issues. Method: Participants ( N = 231, 46 men, 185 women, 18–25 years old) were recruited from online groups focusing on education, social activism, and psychological self-help. Measures: Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure, Perth Emotional Reactivity Scale, and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Results: Negative emotional reactivity predicted all dimensions of interpersonal sensitivity. Positive emotional reactivity negatively predicted fear of rejection and dependence on the opinion of others. Only expressive suppression predicted the fear of rejection. Activation and intensity of negative emotions moderated the link between expressive suppression and fear of rejection. The Interpersonal Sensitivity subscales predicted negative emotional reactivity and expressive suppression. Discussion: The present study corroborates and broadens the results of previous studies that utilized rejection sensitivity – a narrower construct than interpersonal sensitivity. Expressive suppression and emotional reactivity emerge as differential predictors of individual dimensions of interpersonal sensitivity.