A dominance analysis on the relationship between schizotypy and loneliness type

Background

This study investigated how individual differences in schizotypy differentially predicted types of loneliness – direct, social, emotional, and existential loneliness (in relationships and meaninglessness in life).

Methods

We presented participants with the brief version of the Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences and the de Jong Giervald loneliness scale and used dominance analysis to evaluate the dominant predictors of schizotypy on loneliness. We also evaluated the impact of depression on each model.

Results

In our preregistered analysis we found evidence to suggest that cognitive disorganization and introvertive anhedonia are consistently the most dominant of the schizotypy predictors. Introvertive anhedonia was the most dominant predictor for social loneliness and existential loneliness in relationships, and cognitive disorganization was the most dominant predictor of direct, emotional and existential meaninglessness in life loneliness. Depression became the most dominant predictor of all types of loneliness when added to the models.

Limitations

This research is limited by the cross-sectional nature of the data which is unable to account for changes in loneliness over time, and we acknowledge that the relationship between predictors and outcome is likely bi-directional.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the diverse relationship between schizotypy and loneliness type and suggest that schizotypy domains linked to social anxiety and withdrawal are key predictors of loneliness. These findings are important for the development of focused interventions and the prevention of clinical disorder development.