School Children’s Perspective on Rejection Sensitivity, Forgiveness, and Anger Expression

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the differences related to rejection sensitivity, forgiveness tendency, and anger expression among school children using a sample of 800 adolescents (girls = 50%, boys = 50%), aged 12 to 17 years (M =14, SD =1.123), selected through stratified random sampling. Urdu version of the child rejection sensitivity questionnaire (C-RSQ), the Heartland forgiveness scale (HFS), and the indigenously developed child anger expression scale (CAES) were used for assessment. Results indicated that the interaction of gender and different school systems have a significant impact on RS, tendency to forgive, and anger expressions of school-going adolescents. Furthermore, boys from the private school system have more anger rejection sensitivity (44.847, p< 0.01), expression of anger through externalizing (385.511, p< 0.01), hostility, and violence (62.935, p< 0.01). Whereas, girls from the private school system were found to have more anxious rejection sensitivity (137.180, p< 0.01), higher tendency to forgive (25.242, p< 0.01); and increased internalized anger expression (885.982, p< 0.01). It is concluded that rejection sensitivity and low forgiveness lead to different anger expressions among school children, whereas school ecology and teachers play a crucial role in the character building of adolescents by teaching them moral values and civic sense.