Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (RSQ)
Also known as: RSQ
The RSQ is an 18-item self-report measure of rejection sensitivity—the disposition to anxiously expect, readily perceive, and intensely react to rejection from others. Developed by Downey and Feldman in 1996, it captures both anxiety about rejection and expectancy of rejection. Rejection sensitivity is recognized as transdiagnostic interpersonal vulnerability predicting social anxiety, depression, relationship conflict, and self-harm.
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When to use it
Primary use: assessment of rejection sensitivity in individuals with depression (particularly those with rejection-sensitive subtype), social anxiety, and interpersonal difficulties. Identification of underlying anxiety about rejection maintaining relationship avoidance or preemptive withdrawal. Baseline and outcome measurement in therapies addressing rejection fears (cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, dialectical behavior therapy). Research examining rejection sensitivity as mechanism in depression relapse, self-harm, and suicide risk. Not diagnostic; rejection sensitivity is dimensional trait present across clinical and non-clinical populations.
Strengths & limitations
- Captures specific interpersonal vulnerability: rejection sensitivity is distinct from general social anxiety or anxiety sensitivity; focuses on abandonment/exclusion threat
- Dual-component measurement: assesses both anxiety and expectancy components simultaneously; captures how anxious worry + negative expectations interact to drive behavior
- Ecological vignette approach: scenarios describe realistic interpersonal situations; respondents imagine themselves in situations and report anticipated emotions/expectations
- Sensitive to individual differences: strong correlation with relationship functioning, rumination, depression severity; discriminates rejection-sensitive from non-sensitive individuals
- Transdiagnostic relevance: rejection sensitivity predicts across depression subtypes, social anxiety, personality disorders; measures common interpersonal vulnerability
- Scenario-based rather than behavioral: RSQ measures anticipated reactions to hypothetical rejection, not actual behavior in rejection situations; responses may differ from real responses
- Multiplicative scoring complexity: anxiety × expectancy approach less intuitive than single-rating scales; communicating results to patients/stakeholders requires explanation
- No established clinical cutoff: RSQ is dimensional measure without diagnostic threshold; higher scores indicate greater vulnerability but no clear 'caseness' boundary
- Limited cultural validation: most research in Western populations; rejection-sensitivity meaning and expression vary across cultures with different norms for directness/politeness
- Self-report bias: respondents may underestimate rejection sensitivity if ashamed or minimizing social concerns; conversely may overestimate due to current depressed/anxious state
Frequently asked
Is rejection sensitivity the same as social anxiety?
No. Social anxiety involves fear of being evaluated, judged, or embarrassed by others. Rejection sensitivity involves anxiety about being abandoned or excluded. Someone with social anxiety fears negative evaluation but may not fear rejection per se; conversely, rejection-sensitive individuals may be socially confident but fear abandonment. They are related but distinct constructs; a person can be high or low on either or both.
What is the typical RSQ score?
Non-clinical samples average RSQ ~13–14 SD≈7 (range 1–36). Clinical samples with depression or self-harm average RSQ ~18–22 SD≈8. No formal cutoff; higher scores indicate greater rejection sensitivity and vulnerability. Scores >18–20 suggest rejection sensitivity may be clinically relevant maintaining factor in mood or relational difficulties.
Can high rejection sensitivity be changed through therapy?
Yes. Rejection sensitivity decreases with cognitive-behavioral therapy addressing catastrophic thinking about rejection, behavioral experiments testing whether feared rejection actually occurs, and interpersonal skills training. Additionally, mindfulness and acceptance-based approaches help increase tolerance for rejection anxiety rather than eliminating it. Change typically moderate (5–8 point RSQ reduction); some residual sensitivity often remains.
Why would someone with high rejection sensitivity be more prone to relationship conflict?
High rejection sensitivity creates a 'self-fulfilling prophecy' cycle: (1) person expects partner to reject; (2) interprets neutral feedback as rejection; (3) responds with defensiveness, withdrawal, or preemptive aggression; (4) partner responds negatively to this reaction; (5) person interprets partner's response as confirmation of rejection expectancy. Understanding this cycle and slowing the interpretation-reaction sequence is central to treatment.
Is RSQ available free for clinical use?
Yes. The RSQ is in the public domain and freely available for research and clinical use without licensing fees. Reproducible without permission for non-commercial purposes. Cite Downey & Feldman (1996) original publication.
Sources
- Downey, G., & Feldman, S. I. (1996). Implications of rejection sensitivity for intimate relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70(6), 1327–1343. DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.70.6.1327 ↗
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (RSQ). ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/clinical-psychology/rejection-sensitivity-questionnaire
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