Jumping to conclusions and social behavior in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia

The jumping to conclusions (JTC) bias-referring to the tendency to draw conclusions based on limited information-is a recognized cognitive trait in schizophrenia; however, its specific impact on real-world social behaviors remains under-explored. This study examined differences in social behavior and general functioning between individuals with schizophrenia with and without JTC bias and identified specific behavioral factors associated with JTC. We included 68 participants with schizophrenia (22 JTC and 46 Non-JTC) and 60 healthy controls who completed two variants (80:20 and 60:40) of the beads task. Participants were assessed on social behavior using the Social Behavior Schedule, global functioning using the modified Global Assessment of Functioning scale, and psychiatric symptoms using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Although the JTC group exhibited poorer clinical and functional scores, logistic regression analysis revealed that only SBS thought disturbances were significantly and independently associated with JTC bias in the 80:20 beads task. This association remained significant even after adjusting for psychiatric symptoms, education, and illness duration. Our results suggest that JTC bias is a distinct cognitive driver of social dysfunction in schizophrenia and is particularly linked to thought-related behavioral impairments. Targeting JTC through specialized interventions may provide a promising pathway for improving real-world social behavior and overall functioning in individuals with schizophrenia.