Multidimensional Factor Structure of Positive Schizotypy

Abstract

Schizotypy refers to traits similar to schizophrenia symptoms and is related to cluster A personality disorders. Previous factor analytic studies have found a positive schizotypy factor distinct from a negative factor. However, some evidence suggests that the positive factor may itself be multidimensional, but the factor structure of positive schizotypy is still unclear. The current study provided converging evidence through four different analyses that positive schizotypy is multidimensional. First, a factor model with three positive schizotypy factors (paranoia, referential thinking, and cognitive-perceptual) fit the data better than models with fewer than three factors. Second, a factor model with a second-order (i.e., higher-order) positive schizotypy factor fit the data significantly worse than a factor model without a second-order factor in which first-order factors were allowed to correlate freely, suggesting that the second-order factor does not completely account for relations among the first-order factors. Third, a Schmid-Leiman transformation found that even after accounting for the second-order factor that meaningful variance was attributed to the first-order factors. Finally, the three positive schizotypy factors displayed differential relations with five-factor model personality traits. Overall, results suggest that positive schizotypy is composed of correlated but distinct factors.