O12.3. Protective Factors for Psychotic Experiences Amongst Adolescents Exposed to Multiple Forms of Victimization
Year: 2018
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: Experiencing multiple types of victimization (poly-victimization) during adolescence is associated with onset of psychotic experiences. However, many poly-victimized adolescents will not develop such subclinical phenomena and the factors that protect them are unknown. This study investigated whether individual, family, or community-level characteristics were associated with an absence of psychotic experiences amongst poly-victimized adolescents. Participants were from the Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study, a nationally-representative cohort of 2232 UK-born twins. Exposure to seven different types of victimization between ages 12–18 was ascertained using a modified Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire at age 18. Adolescents were also interviewed about psychotic experiences at age 18. Protective factors were measured at ages 12 and 18. Exposure to poly-victimization during adolescence was associated with age-18 psychotic experiences (OR=4.62, 95% CI 3.59–5.94, P<0.001), but more than a third of the poly-victimized adolescents reported having no psychotic experiences (40.1%). Greater social support was found to be protective against adolescent psychotic experiences amongst those exposed to poly-victimization. Notably, social support was also generally associated with a reduced likelihood of age-18 psychotic experiences in the whole sample (along with engaging in physical activity and greater neighborhood social cohesion). Increasing social support from friends and family appears to be an important area for preventive interventions targeting adolescent psychotic experiences. Such prevention efforts would be most effectively targeted at poly-victimized adolescents who are at high-risk of developing psychotic phenomena.
Source: Schizophrenia Bulletin
Institutions: King's College London, Duke University, University of Pennsylvania
Language: English
Topic: Child Abuse and Trauma
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,981
OpenAlex ID: W2795054745