Associations between multiple dimensions of schizotypy and sociodemographic variables in a nonpsychiatric sample of...

In several prior studies, self-reported schizotypy has been documented to vary by gender, age, race/ethnicity, and measures of social engagement. In this study, undergraduate students participated in an online survey, and data from 825 students were used to examine sociodemographic characteristics and past mental health treatment history as predictors of 6 schizotypy measures. History of mental health treatment was a significant independent predictor of paranoid, cognitive-perceptual, and interpersonal schizotypy; race, relationship status, and mental health treatment history were significant independent predictors of disorganized schizotypy; race was an independent significant predictor of perceptual aberrations; and race and gender were significant independent predictors of social anhedonia. These results suggest that basic demographics, relationship status, and history of mental health treatment may be important variables to consider in studies of schizotypy. Furthermore, differences across studies could be driven by race/ethnicity and cultural factors that may affect the reporting of unusual or distorted perceptions.