Primary Submission Category: Race/Ethnicity
Examining the Moderating Effect of Rejection Sensitivity on the Relationship between Discrimination and Telomere Length in African American Women
Authors: Amanda Perez Tyan Parker-Dominguez Amani Allen
Presenting Author: Amanda Perez*
Rejection sensitivity is a dispositional trait, formed in part from experiences of prejudice and discrimination, that refers to the tendency of individuals to anxiously expect, readily perceive, and intensely respond to cues of rejection in social interactions. Previous research has linked higher levels of rejection sensitivity to negative health outcomes such as increased symptoms of anxiety and depression, inflammation, and higher cortisol levels. Using a nationally representative sample of 615 African American women, this study sought to examine the moderating effect of race-based and gender-based rejection sensitivity on the relationship between experiences of discrimination and telomere length, a marker of cellular aging and overall health. Racial discrimination was measured using the 8-item experiences of discrimination scale (𝛼=.91). Race-based rejection sensitivity was measured using the 6 item race-based rejection sensitivity scale (𝛼=.91). Gender-based rejection sensitivity was measured using the 8 item gender-based rejection sensitivity scale (𝛼=.94). We found that rejection sensitivity, whether race-based (β=-0.25, p=0.045 ) or gender-based (β=-0.21, p=0.03), moderated the relationship between experiences of discrimination and telomere length. Individuals reporting low levels of either types of rejection sensitivity, and who also reported higher vs. lower racial discrimination had the longest telomere lengths. These findings highlight the importance of considering rejection sensitivity as a factor that can exacerbate the negative effects of discrimination on health outcomes, particularly in African American women who are at a higher risk for discrimination and related health disparities.