Girls get by with a little help from their friends: gender differences in protective effects of social support for psychotic phenomena amongst poly-victimised adolescents

Abstract

Purpose To investigate whether social support is protective for psychotic experiences similarly among poly-victimised adolescent girls and boys. Methods We utilised data from the Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study, a nationally-representative sample of 2232 UK-born twins. Participants were privately interviewed at age 18 about victimisation, psychotic experiences, and social support during adolescence. Results Perceived social support (overall and from friends) was found to be protective against psychotic experiences amongst poly-victimised adolescent girls, but not boys. Though boys were similarly protected by family support. Conclusions Social support-focused interventions targeting psychotic phenomena amongst poly-victimised adolescents may be more effective for girls.