Introduction:Rejection　sensitivity　is　considered　a　risk　factor　for　loneliness;　however,the　underlying　mechanisms　remain　unknown.　Adopting　the　constructs　of　exposure,reactivity,　and　exposure-reactivity　from　the　personality　framework,　this　study　inves-tigated　three　models　of　rejection　sensitivity,　bullying　victimization,　and　loneliness　toreveal　why　rejection　sensitivity　leads　to　loneliness　among　Chinese　early　adolescents.Methods:Using　a　longitudinal　design,　three-wave　data　were　obtained　(withapproximately　6-month　intervals)　from　2381　Chinese　early　adolescents　(51.2%　boys　atTime　1,Mage=　13.38,　SD　=　0.59)　from　7　secondary　schools.　Students　reported　on　theirrejection　sensitivity　at　Time　1,　bullying　victimization　at　Times　1　and　2,　and　theirloneliness　at　Times　2　and　3.　A　longitudinal　moderated　mediation　model　was　con-ducted　to　analyze　the　association　between　variables.Results:Path　analyses　demonstrated　that　rejection　sensitivity　was　associated　withgreater　loneliness　for　adolescents　in　which　association　was　mediated　by　bullyingvictimization.　High　levels　of　rejection　sensitivity　exacerbate　the　adverse　effect　ofbullying　victimization　on　loneliness.　Furthermore,　in　line　with　the　differentialexposure-reactivity　model,　the　effect　of　rejection　sensitivity　on　loneliness　mediated　bybullying　victimization　only　existed　for　high　rejection-sensitive　adolescents.Conclusions:Thefindings　emphasize　the　dual　role　of　rejection　sensitivity　in　thedevelopment　process　of　adolescents＇　loneliness　and　highlight　the　importance　ofidentifying　rejection-sensitive　adolescents　for　intervention　and　prevention　efforts