Culture and schizophrenia: a cross-ethnic growth curve analysis

This study examined the longitudinal trajectory of a sociocentric construct among African-Americans, Latinos, and nonminorities. Participants were 163 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia who were admitted to community-based psychosocial programs. Previous research had established empathy and social competence as sociocentric cultural mediators of a benign symptom profile for ethnic minorities. Data on sociocentric indicators were collected every 6 months for over 3 years. Growth curve methodology was used to examine the empathy and social competence outcomes over time and across ethnic groups. The results revealed a dynamic course for both sociocentric mediators. However, the dynamic growth curve for empathy was related to ethnicity; for social competence it was not. Empathy levels for African-Americans decreased and then attenuated, whereas empathy levels for Latinos decreased over the entire study. Nonminorities showed very little change overall. The nature of sociocentric phenomena is dynamic and complex. These qualities can apparently be cultivated or diminished over time.