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An Investigation of Language Performance and Social Functioning in Schizotypy

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2019, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Social Sciences (Arts and Sciences).
Schizotypy refers to a cluster of personality traits including unusual perceptual experiences, ideas of reference, suspiciousness, magical thinking, constricted affect, no close friends, social anxiety, eccentric behavior, and odd/disorganized speech. One core deficit observed in individuals with schizotypy is social impairment; however, the underlying mechanisms of social impairment are not well understood. Neurocognitive performance may provide an avenue for understanding social impairment in schizotypy. Empirical evidence suggests a relationship between neurocognitive variables such as language and functional outcomes, including social impairment, across schizophrenia spectrum populations. Schizotypal personality characteristics are also related to performance on language tasks and to social functioning. Some literature suggests that in samples of individuals with schizophrenia, neurocognition is indirectly related to functional outcomes through clinical symptoms. Across the schizophrenia spectrum, cognitive deficits precede the development of clinical symptoms and social impairment. As such, there is reason to believe that in schizotypy samples, cognitive functioning may also be indirectly related to social functioning through schizotypal personality traits; however, to our knowledge, this relationship has not yet been explored. The present thesis utilized archival data to examine the relationships among language performance, schizotypal personality characteristics, and social function in an undergraduate sample. Results indicated the high schizotypy group performed poorer on some tasks of language, reported greater social impairment, and were objectively rated as exhibiting more socially aberrant behaviors than was the low schizotypy group. In the high group only, schizotypal personality traits were negatively related to performance on some language tasks, and to self-reported social functioning. In the high group only, support for an indirect relationship between language performance and social functioning through schizotypal personality characteristics was found. Our findings may help to provide insight as to the mechanisms of social dysfunction to better target treatment efforts in schizophrenia spectrum populations. Limitations and future research are discussed.
Julie Suhr, PhD (Committee Chair)
Nicholas Allan, PhD (Committee Member)
Timothy Anderson, PhD (Committee Member)
98 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Angers, K. (2019). An Investigation of Language Performance and Social Functioning in Schizotypy [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou155536072867341

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Angers, Kaley. An Investigation of Language Performance and Social Functioning in Schizotypy. 2019. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou155536072867341.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Angers, Kaley. "An Investigation of Language Performance and Social Functioning in Schizotypy." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou155536072867341

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)