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149. A study on the intrinsic link between "social alienation" in the modernization process and symptoms of schizophrenia

Year: 2026
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: Background Intensified social competition, weakened community support, and emotional alienation within families during modernization have placed significant long-term social pressure on individuals at high risk of schizophrenia. Surveys show that approximately 34% of individuals at high risk of schizophrenia are chronically socially isolated, and over 40% report a marked lack of social meaning. The combination of lack of social connection and alienation experiences, coupled with rapid changes in the urban environment, further increases the risk of worsening mental health symptoms. Early identification of potential high-risk individuals and monitoring of alienation-related indicators can facilitate precise intervention and reduce the incidence of psychosis conversion. Therefore, this study explores the intrinsic link between social alienation experiences and the development of schizophrenia symptoms under modernization through quantitative social alienation scoring and follow-up data, and evaluates its indicator value in risk prediction and clinical assessment. Methods This study included 300 individuals at high risk for schizophrenia (UHR), divided into an experimental group (n = 150) receiving high-risk screening for social alienation and targeted social reconnection intervention, and a control group (n = 150) receiving routine follow-up monitoring. Screening indicators included the Social Alienation Scale (SAS, cutoff score ≥ 65) and the Negative Symptom Scale (NSS). The intervention program for the experimental group included weekly social engagement training and bi-weekly group supportive psychological counseling for 12 weeks. The control group received only routine psychological interviews. All participants completed assessments at baseline (T0), mid-intervention (T1, 6 weeks), and end of intervention (T2), and the effect size Cohen's d was used to quantify the magnitude of change. The significance level was set at p<.05. Results At the end of the intervention (T2), the total SAS score of high-risk individuals in the experimental group significantly decreased from 72.6 ± 7.4 at T0 to 61.2 ± 6.8 (p<.001, d = 1.61), and the NSS score decreased from 21.3 ± 4.2 to 15.7 ± 3.8 (p<.001, d = 1.36). In contrast, the control group showed no significant changes in either indicator at T2 (p>.05). Intergroup comparisons showed that the experimental group was significantly better than the control group in terms of social connection restoration and symptom improvement (p<.01). Furthermore, the proportion of high-risk individuals in the experimental group who developed psychotic events at T2 was significantly lower than that in the control group (7.3% vs 18.0%, p=.012). Discussion Early intervention based on social reconnection screening can effectively alleviate negative symptoms, improve social functioning, and reduce the risk of psychosis conversion, demonstrating significant application value. The results suggest that modern social structural changes have a potential driving effect on the development of schizophrenia, and that restoring social connectivity can interrupt its deterioration path before the onset of psychosis. Future research will further explore individualized intervention programs, improve intervention adherence, and conduct long-term follow-up to build a mental health protection system suitable for high-risk urban populations.
DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbag003.148
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7128804993
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