SOCIAL REJECTION AS A PREDICTOR OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AMONG EDUCATED ADOLESCENTS.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship of social rejection and psychopathology among adolescents. STUDY DESIGN Correlational research design. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY The study was conducted in Higher Education Commission recognized institutions of Lahore during 2015-2016. SUBJECTS AND METHODS 200 adolescents (both male and female) with age range from 13 to 19 years participated in the study. The respondents had education level from middle level to intermediate level. Purposive sampling was used to collect the data. For data collection child rejection sensitivity questionnaire and strength and difficulties questionnaire were utilized. For mean differences t-test and for finding relationship among the variables Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis were run. RESULTS Findings revealed positive significant relationship between social rejection and psychopathology among adolescents. Results indicated that social rejection scores significantly correlated with psychopathology (r=.46, p<.001). Further, it was found that overall female adolescents (M=22.67, SD=5.83) had higher score on general health as compared with males (M=21.31, SD=5.90). CONCLUSION The social rejection impaired mental health of adolescents. Viewing the results it can be concluded that social rejection is a predictor of psychopathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]