Rejection Self-Compassion Perception of Self-compassion and Rejection sensitivity of Widowed and Divorced women

Widowhood and divorce negatively affect women’s psychological health and interpersonal relationships. These are the most painful phases of women’s lives as they face social and financial challenges after death or divorce. Widowed and divorced women experience discrimination and criticism from society, leading to mental health issues. Repeated experiences of blame and discrimination may cause rejection sensitivity. In such situations, self-compassion serves as a shield against emotional distress. Therefore, the present study was conducted to explore the rejection sensitivity and self-compassion of widowed and divorced women. A sample of 80 widows and 100 divorced women aged 25 to 45 was taken from Pune city with purposive and convenience sampling techniques. The Self-compassion Test (Neff, 2011) and the Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (RSQ) developed by Berenson et al. (2009) were used to collect data. The results found no significant difference in self-judgment, isolation, mindfulness, over-identification, and rejection sensitivity between the two groups; however, divorcees scored higher on self-kindness and common humanity than widows. The study concluded that psychological stressors faced by widowed and divorced women are usually ignored. Society needs to understand the mental health of women after the loss or separation of their life partners. These results have significant implications for clinical practice, counseling, and public awareness.