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A lasting sting: Examining the short-term and long-term effects of real-life group rejection

Publication ,  Journal Article
Martin, JL; Smart Richman, L; Leary, MR
Published in: Group Processes and Intergroup Relations
December 1, 2018

Although many studies have examined the short-term effects of rejection in laboratory settings, few have investigated the impact of rejection over time or in real-world contexts. The university sorority recruitment process offers a unique opportunity to address these shortcomings. Women participating in sorority recruitment were surveyed directly before recruitment, directly after recruitment, and 3 months later. Rejected women experienced decreases in all indicators of well-being directly after recruitment and did not return to baseline on depressive symptoms, positive mental health, satisfaction with life, perceived belonging, or perceived social status 3 months later. Accepted women showed no long-term changes in well-being, with the exception that happiness and perceived social status increased from baseline. A comparison group of women who did not participate in sorority recruitment showed no significant long-term changes in well-being. Perceived belonging, but not social status, significantly mediated the long-term emotional effects of rejection. These results document that rejection experiences can have long-lasting effects.

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Published In

Group Processes and Intergroup Relations

DOI

EISSN

1461-7188

ISSN

1368-4302

Publication Date

December 1, 2018

Volume

21

Issue

8

Start / End Page

1109 / 1124

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Psychology
  • 5205 Social and personality psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 3507 Strategy, management and organisational behaviour
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1503 Business and Management
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Martin, J. L., Smart Richman, L., & Leary, M. R. (2018). A lasting sting: Examining the short-term and long-term effects of real-life group rejection. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 21(8), 1109–1124. https://doi.org/10.1177/1368430217695443
Martin, J. L., L. Smart Richman, and M. R. Leary. “A lasting sting: Examining the short-term and long-term effects of real-life group rejection.” Group Processes and Intergroup Relations 21, no. 8 (December 1, 2018): 1109–24. https://doi.org/10.1177/1368430217695443.
Martin JL, Smart Richman L, Leary MR. A lasting sting: Examining the short-term and long-term effects of real-life group rejection. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations. 2018 Dec 1;21(8):1109–24.
Martin, J. L., et al. “A lasting sting: Examining the short-term and long-term effects of real-life group rejection.” Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, vol. 21, no. 8, Dec. 2018, pp. 1109–24. Scopus, doi:10.1177/1368430217695443.
Martin JL, Smart Richman L, Leary MR. A lasting sting: Examining the short-term and long-term effects of real-life group rejection. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations. 2018 Dec 1;21(8):1109–1124.
Journal cover image

Published In

Group Processes and Intergroup Relations

DOI

EISSN

1461-7188

ISSN

1368-4302

Publication Date

December 1, 2018

Volume

21

Issue

8

Start / End Page

1109 / 1124

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Psychology
  • 5205 Social and personality psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 3507 Strategy, management and organisational behaviour
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1503 Business and Management