The relationship between neglect, antipathy, verbal aggression and the manifestation of schizotypal traits in a non-clinical sample

Previous research indicates that exposure to childhood maltreatment in the form of emotional abuse, may be a contributor to the manifestation of schizotypal traits or schizotypal personality disorder (SPD). Moreover, neglect appears to be a strong predictor of schizotypy and also to distinctive aspects of the schizotypal symptomology. The present study explores the relationship between schizotypy in a non-clinical population and three emotional abuse variables (e.g. neglect, antipathy and parental verbal aggression). 194 participants completed an online questionnaire consisting of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire - Brief version (SPQ.B), the parental verbal aggression scale, the neglect items from the Child Abuse and Trauma scale (CAT) and the antipathy items from the Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse Questionnaire (CECA.Q). Surprisingly, a multiple regression analysis revealed that neglect was the only significant predictor of schizotypy in this sample in comparison to antipathy and parental verbal aggression. Moreover, it was revealed that there was a significant relationship between neglect and certain schizotypal traits (e.g. interpersonal deficits and disorganized deficits). The results and its implications are further discussed. Keywords: Schizotypy, Childhood Maltreatment, Emotional Abuse, Neglect, Antipathy, Parental verbal aggression.bsc_Psyunpub1626_ethesesunpu