💗 Schizophrenia Social Explanation - Sociocultural Factors Flashcards
(16 cards)
What did Faris & Dunham (1939) find about urbanicity and schizophrenia?
They found higher schizophrenia rates in densely populated inner-city areas (e.g., Chicago) compared to outskirts, with the highest rates in areas of ethnic conflict and social mobility.
Urbanicity Risk Factors
What environmental factors did Krabbendam & van Os (2005) link to urban schizophrenia rates?
Socioeconomic adversity, pollution, overcrowding, drug abuse, toxins, infectious agents, and social stress.
Socioeconomic Adversity
How might poverty in urban areas increase schizophrenia risk?
Stressful home life → poor family relationships → high expressed emotion (EE). Maternal stress (e.g., unwanted pregnancy) also increases risk (Herman et al., 2006).
Pollution & Brain Development
How could urban pollution contribute to schizophrenia?
May disrupt prenatal brain development (e.g., maternal illness, poor nutrition) or childhood brain development, leading to structural abnormalities.
Drug Abuse in Urban Areas
What is the link between cannabis and schizophrenia?
Zammit et al. (2002) found cannabis use doubled schizophrenia risk in 40,000 Swedish males.
Childhood Abuse & Schizophrenia
How does childhood abuse increase schizophrenia risk?
Bebbington et al. (2004) found sexual abuse led to a 3x higher risk, possibly due to trauma-induced stress or disrupted development.
Social Isolation Theory
How might social isolation contribute to schizophrenia symptoms
Lack of corrective feedback allows delusional thoughts to persist unchallenged. Isolation may also delay diagnosis/treatment.
Ethnicity & Schizophrenia
What did Cochrane & Sashidharan (1995) find about ethnicity and schizophrenia?
Afro-Caribbean immigrants in the UK were 7x more likely to be diagnosed than white people, possibly due to discrimination/stress
Migration & Schizophrenia
What did Cantor-Graae et al. (2005) conclude about migration and schizophrenia?
Personal/family migration history is a key risk factor; 2nd-gen migrants (children of immigrants) had higher rates than 1st-gen.
Discrimination & Diagnosis
How might discrimination explain higher schizophrenia rates in minorities?
Boydell et al. (2004) found higher rates in minorities living in predominantly white areas, suggesting racism/stress or diagnostic bias.
Bonus: Key Study
What did Pedersen et al. (2006) find about urban upbringing vs. birth?
Being raised in urban areas increases schizophrenia risk, but being born there has no effect, highlighting postnatal environmental factors.
Evaluation - Urbanicity & Schizophrenia Risk
How does urban living increase schizophrenia risk
Evidence: Krabbendam & van Os (2002) link urban stress/pollution to higher risk.
Explanation: Social stress, pollution, and overcrowding may disrupt neurodevelopment.
Evaluation: Correlation ≠ causation; genetic predisposition may drive urban migration.
Evaluation- Causality Debate (Urbanicity)
Does urban living cause schizophrenia?
Evidence: Pedersen & Mortensen (2001) – urban childhood → higher risk.
Explanation: Suggests environment triggers disorder (not self-selection).
Evaluation: Confounding variables (genetics, SES) not ruled out.
Evaluation- Social Isolation
Is social isolation a cause or effect of schizophrenia?
Evidence: Van Os et al. (2000) – low social connections → higher risk.
Explanation: Loneliness may stress neurodevelopment or reduce coping resources.
Evaluation: Symptoms (e.g., paranoia) may cause isolation (reverse causality).
Evaluation- Ethnicity & Discrimination
Why do ethnic minorities show higher schizophrenia rates?
Evidence: Boydell et al. (2001) – minorities in low-density areas at highest risk.
Explanation: Discrimination → chronic stress → neurochemical changes.
Evaluation: Hard to isolate discrimination from SES/cultural factors.
Bonus: Evaluation Terms
Q: Key limitations of urbanicity research?
Correlational – cannot prove causation.
Confounding variables (e.g., genetics, drug use).
Cultural bias – overdiagnosis in minorities.
