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Perceived burdensomeness and attention to words signifying social ostracism

Poster Session F - Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 8:00 – 10:00 am PDT, Fairview/Kitsilano Ballroom

Emma Schulz¹ (), Madison Risner¹, Megan Rogers¹, Natalie Ceballos¹, Reiko Graham¹; ¹Department of Psychology, Texas State University

Social rejection (SR) and its consequences, especially feeling like a burden on others (perceived burdensomeness, PB), are precursors of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation; risks that may be exacerbated by stress. This study examined the effects of an acute, non-social stressor on event-related potential (ERP) indices of attentional biases to SR words (which should be self-relevant) in individuals high in PB. Twenty-two high PB individuals (Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire PB subscale > 11) completed 2 lab visits consisting of a series of 3-stimulus oddball tasks while ERPs were recorded. On one visit (order counterbalanced) they completed 2 runs of the oddball task; one with SR-related targets, the other with neutral target words, both before and after a verbal math task. On a different visit, a control task (computer game) intervened. Analyses focused on the peak latencies and amplitudes of 2 components sensitive to self-relevance: an early frontal positivity (P150) and subsequent negativity (N2). Repeated measures ANOVAs revealed that P150 latencies varied as a function of target status (target vs. non-target) and stimulus type (PB vs. neutral words). PB targets and non-targets did not differ in onset, while non-targets for neutral words were delayed relative to targets. N2 amplitudes were attenuated for PB relative to neutral words, converging with studies showing attenuation to self-relevant stimuli. Notably, these effects were not modulated by the stressor. Although preliminary, results suggest that words associated with SR are self-relevant in individuals high in PB, a bias that is not affected by an acute non-social stressor.

Topic Area: EMOTION & SOCIAL: Self perception