Examining Influences of Rejection Sensitivity among Persons with Mental Illness

Background: Rejection sensitivity presents a significant barrier to healthcare access and contributes to adverse mental health outcomes. The perception of rejection is shaped by an individual’s coping strategies and sensitivity to discriminatory behaviors embedded within stigma and social injustice. Purpose: This study investigates the extent to which internalized stigma, anticipated discrimination, and structural violence (extreme social injustice) influence rejection sensitivity among persons with mental illness (PWMI). Methodology: A quantitative, non-experimental cross-sectional design was employed to examine how anticipated discrimination, internalized stigma, and experiences of injustice impact rejection sensitivity among PWMIs. Sample and Setting: The study surveyed 330 outpatients receiving care at two public psychiatric hospitals in Southern Ghana. Results: Hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis revealed that anticipated discrimination was not significantly associated with rejection sensitivity (β = .015, p = .775, 95% CI: -0.789 – 1.057). However, internalized stigma (β = .148, p = .029, 95% CI: 0.119 – 2.146) and structural violence (β = .165, p = .015, 95% CI: 0.014 – 0.134) were both significant predictors of rejection sensitivity. Implications: While social interactions can exacerbate distress for individuals with high rejection sensitivity, supportive social environments serve as crucial mechanisms for fostering inclusion and empowerment. These findings highlight important public health considerations for policymakers, healthcare providers, and social welfare systems, emphasizing the need for effective stigma reduction initiatives and mental health policy reforms.