Interpersonal factors contributing to the stigma of schizophrenia: social skills, perceived attractiveness, and symptoms

This study investigated the interpersonal factors (i.e., social skills, sym ptoms, perceived physical attractiveness) which are related to the stigma o f schizophrenia. Social skills performance was assessed for 39 individuals with schizophrenia who participated in two role-plays with a confederate. S ocial skills ratings comprised 'overall social skill', 'meshing', 'clarity' , and 'fluency' of speech, 'gaze', 'pleasantness' of conversation, 'involve ment' in conversation, 'number of questions asked' during conversation, and 'perceived strangeness'. Symptomatology was assessed with the Brief Psychi atric Rating Scale. Ratings of perceived physical attractiveness were obtai ned by pausing the videotaped role-plays after the first 2 s of the interac tion. Ratings of 'social distance', based on an independent sample who obse rved the role-plays, were used as a proxy measure of stigma. The results sh owed that social distance was best statistically predicted by perceived str angeness, which in turn, was best statistically predicted by ratings of ove rall social skill. Negative symptoms appeared to have a more robust associa tion with desired social distance than positive symptoms. Interpersonal fac tors, such as overall social skill, negative symptoms, and perceived strang eness, may contribute to stigma. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.