Social Rejection in the Development of Mood Disorders

Mood disorders, a class of serious mental illnesses, are often the outcome of social rejection, a situation in which an individual is deliberately excluded from a social interaction, relationship, or event (DeWall & Bushman, 2011). While those who experience social rejection may try to disregard their reaction (e.g., embarrassment), some of the long-term impacts can have unintended consequences and effects on a person’s health. The present work aims to review the effects of social rejection and how it is connected to the development of mood disorders, specifically depression and bipolar disorder. A better understanding of how social rejection leads to the development of mood disorders is important for assisting those who may have experienced social rejection with coping in adaptive ways that lessen the likelihood of mood disorder development.