Fear of Rejection Influences How Children Conform to Peers

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by ScienceDaily.

This fear of rejection — familiar to many children and adults — can significantly impact how kids behave in their peer groups, according to new research from the University of Georgia.

The study found that children who feel anxious about being rejected are more likely to conform to academic expectations like studying harder or following classroom rules. They’re also less likely to engage in troublemaking behaviors. On the other hand, children who actively expect rejection tend to resist conforming to both academic behaviors and popular trends.

“Rejection sensitivity is a really concerning characteristic in children,” said Michele Lease, a professor in the Mary Frances Early College of Education’s department of educational psychology and co-author of the study. “When children are rejection sensitive, they might worry and become withdrawn or feel angry and become hostile. If they’re trying to fit in and not get rejected, they might learn to conform, ingratiate themselves or be less assertive. Rejection sensitivity is also a good predictor of depression, even before the onset of symptoms.”

The research, led by recent UGA graduate Cayenne Predix, involved more than 350 fourth and fifth-grade students. Participants completed questionnaires with scenarios to measure how likely they were to follow their friends’ behaviors in three areas: academics, trend-following and troublemaking.

Interestingly, witnessing relational victimization including gossiping or bullying did not consistently influence children’s conformity across behaviors. Instead, children’s emotional and cognitive reactions to potential rejection were the strongest predictors of whether they would follow group norms.

Specifically, anxious children were more inclined to avoid disruptive actions and match their peers’ positive academic behaviors such as studying more or participating in class. Conversely, those who expected rejection were less likely to conform academically or socially.

“Overall, the study’s findings underscore the need to consider both the emotional and cognitive aspects of rejection sensitivity when investigating conformity, especially in the context of relational aggression within friendship groups,” Lease said.

Source: ScienceDaily
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250404122432.htm