Unraveling psychosis risk in sexual minorities

Temporal dynamics of social defeat and suspiciousness in adolescence

Bibliographic Data

ID21344872
AuthorsMargaux Sageot (0000-0001-5102-8351, Department of Neurosciences, Research Group Psychiatry, Center for Clinical Psychiatry KU Leuven Leuven Belgium, corresponding author), Robin Achterhof (0000-0002-3269-2270, Department of Neurosciences, Research Group Psychiatry, Center for Contextual Psychiatry KU Leuven Leuven Belgium), Anu Pauliina Hiekkaranta (0000-0001-9789-8539, University of Gothenburg), Aleksandra Lecei (0000-0003-0877-0520, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne Cologne Germany), Kristof Vansteeland (KU Leuven, University Psychiatric Center (UPC) Leuven Belgium), Inez Myin-Germeys (0000-0002-3731-4930, KU Leuven), Inez Myin‐Germeys (Department of Neurosciences, Research Group Psychiatry, Center for Contextual Psychiatry KU Leuven Leuven Belgium), Ruud van Winkel (0000-0001-6262-1935, Department of Neurosciences, Research Group Psychiatry, Center for Clinical Psychiatry KU Leuven Leuven Belgium)
Year2026
Volume67
Issue2
Pages296-304
Publication date2026-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0021-9630 • E-ISSN: 1469-7610
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/jcpp.70042
PMID40928071
OpenAlexW4414085809
LanguageEN
References cited45

BACKGROUND: Previous research suggests that sexual minorities are at higher risk for psychotic experiences, possibly due to repeated social defeat experiences. However, empirical research investigating this hypothesis is largely lacking. This study examined how experiences of "feeling excluded" and "not belonging" impact the prospective development of psychotic experiences in an adolescent sexual minority group, defined here as non-heterosexual attraction to others. METHODS: Experience sampling method (ESM) data from 1913 Flemish adolescents (aged 11-20) in the SIGMA study were analyzed. They reported their momentary feelings of exclusion when alone, belonging when in the company of others (both operationalizations of social defeat), and suspiciousness. Multilevel linear regression models tested the bidirectional, within- and between-person associations between social defeat and suspiciousness, and the effects of sexual minority status. RESULTS: Lower feelings of belonging when in company significantly predicted higher suspiciousness at the next beep [95% CI: -0.03, -0.01], whereas increased feelings of exclusion when alone did not. Moreover, suspiciousness did not significantly predict feelings of exclusion and belonging at the next beep, confirming the direction of effect. Sexual minority participants reported generally lower belonging in social settings [95% CI: -0.68, -0.29] and higher suspiciousness [95% CI: 0.16, 0.57], but not higher feelings of exclusion. The interaction between social defeat and sexual minority status was not significant, indicating no differential sensitivity to social defeat experiences. CONCLUSIONS: The experience of "not fitting in" when in company may be the most poignant social factor increasing risk for psychotic experiences in sexual minority youth. The findings highlight the need for inclusive environments where sexual minority individuals feel supported and integrated

Dynamics (music) · Psychosis · Risk factor · Schizophrenia (object-oriented programming) · Sexual behavior · Social defeat · Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending · Schizophrenia research and treatment · Social and Intergroup Psychology

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