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. 2015 Feb 23;10(2):e0117386.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117386. eCollection 2015.

Associations between stereotype awareness, childhood trauma and psychopathology: a study in people with psychosis, their siblings and controls

Catherine van Zelst  1 , Martine van Nierop  1 , Daniëlla S van Dam  2 , Agna A Bartels-Velthuis  3 , Philippe Delespaul  4 ; GROUP-investigators
Collaborators, Affiliations

Associations between stereotype awareness, childhood trauma and psychopathology: a study in people with psychosis, their siblings and controls

Catherine van Zelst et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Introduction: Stereotype awareness--or an individual's perception of the degree to which negative beliefs or stereotypes are held by the public--is an important factor mediating public stigma, self-stigma and their negative consequences. Research is required to assess how individuals become more sensitive to perceive stereotypes, pointing the way to therapeutic options to reduce its negative effects and increase stigma resilience. Because perception and interpretation can be guided by belief systems, and childhood trauma (CT) is reported to impact such beliefs, CT is explored in relation to stereotype awareness (SA) in persons with psychosis, their siblings and controls.

Method: Data from the GROUP project (Genetic Risk and Outcome of Psychosis) were analyzed. SA was measured by devaluation scales which assess a respondent's perception of the degree to which stereotypes about people with mental illness and about their families are held by the public. CT was measured using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (short form).

Results: In patients, symptoms of disorganization and emotional distress were associated with SA about people with mental illness. In siblings, schizotypal features were associated with both types of SA (more schizotypy = more SA). In both patients and siblings, CT was associated with both types of SA (more CT = more SA), independent of symptoms (patients) or schizotypy (siblings).

Conclusion: CT in people with psychosis and their siblings may sensitize to SA. Thus, CT may not only impact on risk for illness onset, it may also increase SA associated with mental illness, potentially interfering with the recovery process. CT-induced SA may indicate a heightened sensitivity to threat, which may also impact psychopathology.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors received unrestricted funding from commercial sources: Jansen-Cilag, Eli Lilly and Company, Astra-Zeneca, and Lundbeck. These companies were not involved in any way in the design, analysis, writing or any other aspect of this work. This does not alter the authors’ adherence to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Hypothetical model of associations between childhood trauma, stereotype awareness and beliefs.
We hypothesize that CT may sensitize the individual to perceive stereotypes in society (SA). Earlier research has demonstrated that CT impacts on beliefs. We also expect SA to interact with these beliefs.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Childhood trauma (CTQ-SF) and stereotype awareness (DCS) in patients, siblings and controls.
Example: Results for 30-year-old men of white ethnicity. CTQ-SF = Childhood Trauma Questionnaire—Short Form. DCS = Devaluation of Consumers Scale. Presented are scores on DCS associated with CTQ-SF scores (maximum CTQ-SF range of 1 (= all items rated as “never true”) until 5 (= all items rated as “very often true”).
Fig 3
Fig 3. Childhood trauma (CTQ-SF) and stereotype awareness (DCFS) in patients, siblings and controls.
Example: Results for 30-year-old men of white ethnicity. CTQ-SF = Childhood Trauma Questionnaire—Short Form. DCFS = Devaluation of Consumers Families Scale. Presented are scores on DCFS associated with CTQ-SF scores (maximum CTQ-SF range of 1 (= all items rated as “never true”) until 5 (= all items rated as “very often true”).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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