Schizophrenia (SocioCultural Factors) Flashcards
What is urbanicity in relation to schizophrenia?
The idea that living in densely populated urban areas is linked to a higher risk of developing schizophrenia.
How has urbanisation changed over time?
In 1800, only 3% lived in urban areas. By 2008, it was 50%.
Why might urban living contribute to mental illness?
Humans evolved in rural settings; urban environments can cause stress and social disruption.
What did Faris and Dunham (1939) find about schizophrenia in Chicago?
Higher rates in densely populated city centers than in suburbs.
What urban factor was associated with highest schizophrenia rates in Faris and Dunham’s study?
Areas with high ethnic conflict.
What factors did Krabbendam and van Os (2005) link to increased schizophrenia risk in urban areas?
Socioeconomic adversity, maternal stress, environmental pollution, poor health conditions.
How can maternal stress affect schizophrenia risk?
Herman et al (2006) found stress during unwanted pregnancy increased risk.
What environmental factor can affect brain development before birth?
Pollution in urban areas.
What did Zammit et al (2002) discover about cannabis and schizophrenia?
Cannabis use doubled the risk among 40,000 Swedish males.
What did Bebbingtion et al (2004) link to schizophrenia?
Sexual abuse increased the risk threefold.
What did Pedersen et al (2006) find about being raised vs. born in urban environments?
Being raised in an urban setting increased risk, but being born there did not.
How does social isolation relate to schizophrenia?
It may be both a symptom and contributing factor.
What childhood patterns are linked to schizophrenia?
Solitary play, poor social confidence, and lack of social support.
What did Jones et al (1994) find in their longitudinal study?
Those later diagnosed with schizophrenia were more socially withdrawn as children.
Why is early social interaction important?
It’s crucial for emotional and psychological development.
How does lack of social feedback affect thinking?
Allows inappropriate thoughts to go unchallenged and become entrenched.
Why might schizophrenia symptoms go unnoticed in isolated individuals?
No one is present to notice or intervene early.
What did Van Os (2000) find about social isolation and schizophrenia risk?
Single people in non-single communities had higher risk; isolation worsened by social contrast.
What additional risk factors did Van Os find for schizophrenia?
Being foreign-born, unemployed, or on welfare—especially if different from neighbors.
What did Cochrane and Sashidharan (1995) find about ethnicity and schizophrenia?
Black Afro-Caribbean immigrants in the UK are 7x more likely to be diagnosed than white people.
What is a possible explanation for higher schizophrenia rates in immigrants?
Racism, discrimination, and social isolation.
What did Cantor-Graae et al (2005) conclude in their meta-analysis?
A personal or family history of migration is a major risk factor.
What did Boydell et al (2004) find about ethnic minority size and schizophrenia risk?
Smaller minority groups had higher rates, suggesting social experience matters.
Why are migrants more vulnerable to schizophrenia?
Urban living, language barriers, lack of family support, discrimination.
What model explains how these factors might interact?
The diathesis-stress model (genetic predisposition + environmental stress).
What’s a possible benefit of urban living for mental health diagnosis?
More educated people and better access to healthcare may spot symptoms earlier.
What complicates studying the impact of cities on schizophrenia?
Too many overlapping variables (e.g., SES, health, pollution).
Why might urbanicity research lack temporal validity?
Cities have changed over time (e.g., rising costs, gentrification).
What did Sartorius et al (1986) find about schizophrenia rates across cultures?
Rates of schizophrenia are becoming more similar globally.
Why is social isolation significant for treatment?
It may delay diagnosis and prevent early intervention.
What’s a limitation of social isolation theory?
Doesn’t explain what causes schizophrenia in the first place.
What are concerns about bias in ethnicity and schizophrenia research?
Most researchers are white, educated, and middle class, risking cultural bias.
What overarching criticism applies to these sociocultural theories?
They may downplay genetics and be too focused on environment and culture.
Why might poverty-focused research be limited in insight?
Researchers often have not experienced poverty themselves, leading to biased interpretation.
