Associations between Stereotype Awareness, Childhood Trauma and Psychopathology: A Study in People with Psychosis, Their Siblings and Controls

Seems like another way that Stress during childhood can impact risk of Schizophrenia later in life:

Introduction:

Stereotype awareness—or an individual’s perception of the degree to which negative beliefs or stereotypes are held by the public—is an important factor mediating public stigma, self-stigma and their negative consequences. Research is required to assess how individuals become more sensitive to perceive stereotypes, pointing the way to therapeutic options to reduce its negative effects and increase stigma resilience. Because perception and interpretation can be guided by belief systems, and childhood trauma (CT) is reported to impact such beliefs, CT is explored in relation to stereotype awareness (SA) in persons with psychosis, their siblings and controls.

Conclusion

Childhood Trauma in people with psychosis and their siblings may sensitize to stereotype awareness. Thus, Childhood Trauma may not only impact on risk for illness onset, it may also increase stereotype awareness associated with mental illness, potentially interfering with the recovery process. Childhood Trauma-induced stereotype awareness may indicate a heightened sensitivity to threat, which may also impact psychopathology.

Read the full paper here: