title: Association between attachment prototypes and schizotypy dimensions in two independent non-clinical samples of Spanish and American young adults.
abstract: Attachment theory offers a powerful theoretical framework for elucidating the developmental pathway through which childhood interpersonal trauma confers vulnerability to psychosis. In the present study, the association between attachment and schizotypy was explored in two independent non-clinical samples of Spanish (n=547) and American (n=1425) young adults. Participants completed the Relationship Questionnaire and the Wisconsin Schizotypy Scales. Following attachment theory and cognitive accounts of psychosis, it was hypothesized that preoccupied attachment would be associated with positive schizotypy, dismissing attachment with negative schizotypy, and fearful attachment with both schizotypy dimensions. Results confirmed these predictions, thus supporting the theoretical frameworks invoked. Also, the associations found in these non-clinical samples are consistent with those in clinical psychosis, supporting the continuum model of schizotypy and schizophrenia. Finally, there was cross-cultural consistency of these associations. Overall, the findings support the application of attachment theory for furthering our understanding of whether different insecure styles, characterized by different self and other representations and affect regulation strategies, play a role in the pathways to positive and negative symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Departament de Psicologia Clínica i de la Salut, Facultat de Psicologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sheinbaum
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bedoya
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ros-Morente
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Kwapil
authors.forename: Neus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Barrantes-Vidal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003469:Culture; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina; D009769:Object Attachment; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012569:Schizotypal Personality Disorder / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Attachment styles; Cross-cultural; Negative schizotypy; Positive schizotypy; Psychosis