Current psychotic-like experiences among adolescents in China: Identifying risk and protective factors

Objective: This study aim to explore the prevalence of current PLEs over past month and relevant influential factors among adolescents. Methods: A total of 67,538 students completed one online survey between April 21st and May 12th, 2021. Current PLEs were assessed using the 8-item Positive Subscale of the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE-P8). Participants were defined as having frequent PLEs if they selected often or nearly always on one or more items of CAPE-P8. Family function, school climate and a series of socio-demographic were also evaluated. Results: In this sample, 49.3% adolescents reported having at least one PLE over the past month, while 15.4% experienced high frequent PLEs. Alcohol intake was positively associated with high frequent PLEs (OR = 2.61, 95% CI = 2.37-2.88). Adolescents with chronic physical illness (OR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.73-2.18) or family history of psychiatric illness (OR = 2.61, 95% CI = 2.22-2.77) were more likely to suffer from high frequent PLEs. Dysfunction family function (OR moderate = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.98-2.09; OR severe = 6.98, 95% CI = 6.48-7.53) or poor school climate (OR = 3.14, 95% CI = 2.93-3.37) was associated with elevated high frequent PLEs. Conclusions: Several factors of socio-demographics, unhealthy lifestyle, family and school environments are found to be related to frequent PLEs. These factors should also be taken into consideration for effective psychosocial intervention in adolescents.

Automated summary

The study found that factors such as unhealthy lifestyle, family, and school environments are associated with frequent PLEs among adolescents, and these factors should also be considered in effective psychosocial interventions.