Schizotypy and the role of coping behaviors in the experience of positive and negative affect

The purpose of the current study was to examine whether (a) schizotypy is positively related to negative affect and negatively related to positive affect, (b) whether individuals with high levels of schizotypy use more maladaptive coping behaviors than those low in schizotypy, (c) that maladaptive coping behaviors will mediate the relationship between schizotypy and negative affect, and (d) that adaptive coping behaviors will mediate the relationship between schizotypy and positive affect. A sample of 435 undergraduate participants completed self-report measures including The Brief Cope, The Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire, and The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. Bivariate correlations resulted in levels of schizotypy to be positively associated to negative affect and negatively associated to positive affect, replicating previous research. An independent samples t-test found that individuals high in schizotypy used more maladaptive coping behaviors. Bootstrapping was used to examine the mediation models proposed. Maladaptive coping partially mediated the relationship between schizotypy and negative affect whereas adaptive coping did not mediate the relationship between schizotypy and positive affect. Implications for prevention programs designed for individuals with high levels of schizotypy are discussed