'That student ignored me': Exploring social anxiety as a predictor of perceived student ostracism.

Being ostracised (i.e. ignored and excluded) by others can be painful and distressing. Certain individual differences (e.g. social anxiety) are known to exacerbate the negative psychological consequences of ostracism. However, little empirical research has investigated who (e.g. those with social anxiety) is most likely to feel ostracised by their peers in higher education. The present study recruited 84 undergraduate students who completed an online survey measuring social anxiety (predictor variable) and perceived student ostracism (outcome variable). The results showed that after controlling for age, there was a significant positive relationship between social anxiety and perceived student ostracism. Implications for the way that educators promote social inclusion, particularly for those with social anxiety, within higher education are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]