Psychotic Experiences in the Adaptation Process to a New Social Environment

Abstract

To evaluate the association between psychotic experiences (PEs) and social stress and discrimination during adaptation to a new social context. First-term university students (n: 164) were screened to determine if they had had any PEs, social adaptation-related stress, and/or perceived discrimination in the prior six months. The positive dimension of the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE) was used to define PEs. Social relations and discrimination in the students' new social contexts (both narrow (i.e., their class) and wider (i.e., urban environment) were screened with relevant questionnaires regarding social capital and discrimination. Responders were classified as either the "High CAPE" group (first and second quartiles; n: 82) or the "Low CAPE" group (third and fourth quartiles; n: 82), which was used as the baseline/control group. Analyses included associations between these two groups and social stress, discrimination, and demographic/non-demographic variables. Results were re-analyzed after excluding irregular students and regrouping with the first and fourth quartiles in CAPE. High CAPE scores were associated with perceived discrimination in narrow and wider social environments (adjusted 0,08; 95% CI: 0,01-0,11), and with adaptation-related stress in narrow social environment (adjusted 0,02; 95% CI: 0,01-0,05). In addition, high CAPE scores were associated with smoking and lower maternal educational level. Associations were stronger when the data was re-analyzed based on the first and fourth quartiles. However, associations between discrimination, social stress, and high CAPE scores were attenuated after exclusion of irregular students. Adaptation-related social stress and perceived discrimination in a new social context may increase the risk of PEs. This particular association seems to be more prominent in groups with higher social stress (e.g., those with academic failure or high perceived discrimination).