GENDER DIFFERENCES IN SCHIZOTYPIC FEATURES IN A LARGE-SAMPLE OF YOUNG-ADULTS

Research with self-report measures of schizotypic or psychosis-prone f eatures in nonclinical populations suggests that, similarly to schizop hrenic populations, males score higher on more ''negative'' schizotypi c features and females score higher on more ''positive'' schizotypic f eatures. Rie administered the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire an d the Chapman Scales of Psychosis Proneness-impulsivity/nonconformity, magical ideation, perceptual aberration, physical anhedonia, and soci al anhedonia-to a large, nonclinical, young adult sample (N = 1179: 45 3 males and 726 females). Results indicated increased negative symptom atology in males compared with females, but not increased positive sym ptomatology in females compared with males. Findings on Schizotypal Pe rsonality Questionnaire factors suggested that interpersonal deficits differed by gender as well. Finally, a measure of impulsive behavior a nd nonconformity not typically associated with negative symptomatology indicated gender differences not predicted by a negative/positive dic hotomy.