Exploring How the Interplay Between Internalised Shame and Rejection Sensitivity Influences Emotional Expressivity in Women Who Identify as Emerging Adults

Abstract

Emotional expression is a fundamental human need as it not only helps us connect and forge deep relationships with others but also serves as an outlet for our innermost thoughts, dreams, fears, desires, ideas and needs; without the sharing of which, one is bound to feel suffocated. Despite, this need being so innate – there are factors which hinder how much an individual can open up. Internalised shame and rejection sensitivity being two of them. This study seeks to examine the impact of internalised shame and rejection sensitivity on emotional expressivity in young women aged 18 to 30 years. Emotional expressivity plays a crucial role in interpersonal communication and psychological well-being, while internalised shame and rejection sensitivity are known to hinder authentic emotional expression. The research employed a quantitative, cross-sectional design using purposive sampling. A total of 100 participants completed three standardized self-report instruments: the Internalized Shame Scale (Cook, 1988), the Adult Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (Downey & Feldman, 1996), and the Emotional Expressivity Scale (Kring et al., 1994). Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple linear regression analysis were conducted using SPSS to analyse the results. Correlation analysis revealed significant negative relationships between emotional expressivity and both internalised shame (r = –.770, p < .01) and rejection sensitivity (r = –.664, p < .01). Internalised shame and rejection sensitivity were also positively correlated with each other (r = .677, p < .01). Multiple regression analysis indicated that both internalised shame and rejection sensitivity significantly predicted emotional expressivity, accounting for 63% of the variance (R² = .63). Internalised shame emerged as the stronger predictor (β = –.592, p < .001). These findings suggest that internalised shame and rejection sensitivity significantly inhibit emotional expression, highlighting the need for interventions that promote emotional safety and self-acceptance in young women. The study underscores the importance of addressing self-conscious emotions in mental health frameworks and suggests further longitudinal and cross-cultural research to explore these constructs in more depth.