In:
Swiss Journal of Psychology, Hogrefe Publishing Group, Vol. 72, No. 2 ( 2013-01), p. 103-109
Abstract:
We examined the effects of ostracism in early adolescent populations using the cyberball paradigm ( Williams, Cheung, & Choi, 2000 ). Ninety-one Swiss school students, aged 10–14 years, were randomly assigned to the ostracism (24 girls, 23 boys) or the inclusion (23 girls, 21 boys) condition and were led to believe that they were playing cyberball with two other same-sex students. In reality, they were computer-generated confederates. We assessed self-reported levels of mood before and after playing the game as well as sense of belonging, self-esteem, meaningful existence, and control after the game. Compared to nonostracized students, adolescents in the ostracism condition reported significantly lower levels of positive mood after playing the game. Furthermore, they reported a lower sense of belonging and lower levels of self-esteem, meaningful existence, and control. The present results from a non-English-speaking sample correspond well to the few earlier findings in adolescent and adult populations by suggesting that even brief periods of ostracism with unknown others can lead to a significant decrease in well-being in these age groups.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1421-0185
,
1662-0879
DOI:
10.1024/1421-0185/a000103
Language:
English
Publisher:
Hogrefe Publishing Group
Publication Date:
2013
detail.hit.zdb_id:
3093293-2
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2090982-2
SSG:
2,1
SSG:
5,2
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