Schizotypy in community samples: the three-factor structure and correlation with sustained attention

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Cross-cultural Psychology
• Psychopathology

Background:

• Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) is a key tool for assessing schizotypy.
• Cross-cultural validation is crucial for global applicability of psychological measures.
• Previous research suggests a three-factor structure for the SPQ.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the cross-cultural applicability of the SPQ, Perceptual Aberration Scale (PAS), and Continuous Performance Test in Taiwanese adults and adolescents.
• To test the hypothesized three-factor structure (Cognitive-Perceptual, Interpersonal, Disorganization) of the SPQ in a Taiwanese sample.
• To investigate the association between SPQ factors and attention, and the role of the PAS in relation to attention.

Main Methods:

• Community samples of Taiwanese adults and adolescents were assessed.
• The Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ), Perceptual Aberration Scale (PAS), and Continuous Performance Test were administered.
• Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the SPQ structure, and correlational analyses examined associations with attention.

Main Results:

• The three-factor structure of the SPQ was replicated in both Taiwanese adult and adolescent samples.
• The Interpersonal factor, and potentially the Disorganization factor, were associated with poorer attention in adults.
• The PAS consistently correlated with poorer attention in both samples, unlike the SPQ's Cognitive-Perceptual factor.

Conclusions:

• The SPQ demonstrates cross-cultural applicability, with its three-factor structure holding in Taiwanese samples.
• The Interpersonal and Disorganization factors of the SPQ are relevant to attention deficits, supporting their role in schizotypy.
• The PAS shows consistent associations with attention, suggesting its utility alongside the SPQ for early schizotypy detection across cultures.