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Perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness prospectively influence real-world social support-seeking behavior among emerging adults with first-episode psychosis

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Social dysfunction is a core feature of first-episode psychosis (FEP) that broadly impacts effective interpersonal interaction. FEP often begins during emerging adulthood, which is a critical period for developing and maintaining social relationships. Social support positively influences the early course of FEP, yet little is known about factors that influence social support-seeking behavior. Individuals with psychosis have elevated levels of negative interpersonal beliefs related to feeling like a burden to others (i.e., perceived burdensomeness; PB) and disconnection from others (i.e., thwarted belongingness; TB). However, how these beliefs impact perceptions of social support or support-seeking behavior is unknown. METHODS: 42 FEP participants completed laboratory-based assessments of social relationships and negative interpersonal beliefs, followed by 4 weeks of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to assess real-world social support-seeking behavior. Correlational analyses and generalized linear mixed-effect models examined the contribution of PB and TB to both laboratory-based and real-world social perception and behavior. RESULTS: Perceived burdensomeness (PB) and thwarted belongingness (TB) were negatively correlated with perceived social support. EMA revealed a within-person effect whereby individuals were most likely to seek social support when experiencing more negative affect than was typical of them. Higher levels of baseline PB and TB were predictive of less social support-seeking behavior in everyday life. CONCLUSION: Negative interpersonal beliefs are related to both perceptions of social support and real-world social support-seeking behavior in FEP. Beliefs about burdening others and individual-level variation in negative affect may be particularly impactful on social behavior. Collectively, interpersonal beliefs influence real-world social behavior in FEP.

Source: Schizophrenia Research

DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2025.10.009

Authors: Aubrey M. Moe, Xiaoxuan Cai, Chenze Li, Heather M. Wastler

Institution: The Ohio State University

Language: English

Topic: Schizophrenia research and treatment

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,910