Virtual Social Ostracism: The Influence of Paradigm Settings in the Cyberball Paradigm in Adolescents Considering the Role of Emotion Regulation and Depression-Anxiety-Stress Symptoms

Background: Social rejection threatens human existence since social affiliation is one of our fundamental psychological needs. Objective: Psychological fundamental needs (meaningful existence, belonging, control, self-esteem) and six emotions before and after the induction of cyberostracism were assessed to examine the effects of cyberostracism using the Cyberball paradigm with four different paradigm settings (additional team players, adding pictures, mood induction) among adolescents. Method: In all, 117 adolescents (12-18 years) played Cyberball. Results: The induction of cyberostracism among adolescents was successful. They reported a threat in all four fundamental psychological needs, an increase of anger (d = 0.61) and sadness (d = 0.57) as well as a reduction of happiness (d = 0.55) and excitement (d = 0.47). Depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms and lower emotion regulation skills predicted lower self-esteem ratings after playing Cyberball (f(2) = .43). Conclusion: No benefit was found for the manipulations of the paradigm settings. On the contrary, playing Cyberball with three team players instead of two led to a reduction in fundamental psychological threats. Furthermore, the results confirm the negative psychological impact and the influence of psychopathology in the expression of a lower self-esteem after the induction of cyberostracism.