Social ostracism recovery

Context and relevance. Social ostracism, as a phenomenon of social exclusion, ignoring, and rejection, remains a key subject of interdisciplinary research due to its destructive impact on mental health, social adaptation, group dynamics, and organizational effectiveness. Despite significant progress in studying the mechanisms and consequences of this phenomenon’s impact on individuals, there is very little data on the mechanisms of recovery after ostracism. Objective. Identifying and systematizing the psychological determinants of successfully coping with the consequences of ostracism, as well as defining strategies and targets for corrective and preventive interventions. Hypothesis. The success of psychological recovery after ostracism is mediated by a complex interaction of cognitive, affective, behavioral, and contextual factors. Methods and materials. A systematic review of works in the field of ostracism recovery was conducted, with a focus on studies from 2020—2025, using the PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and eLibrary databases in accordance with PRISMA principles. Results. A number of targets for recovery work after ostracism were identified: «costs and benefits», attributional processes, self‑monitoring, flexibility in reassessing the social situation over time, and others. Conclusions. Recovery from ostracism requires a comprehensive approach that takes into account a wide range of factors (personal characteristics, assessment of the short‑term or long‑term nature of ostracism, belonging to a particular culture, etc.). Guidelines for developing differentiated support programs are proposed.

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