Factors limiting romantic relationship formation for individuals with early psychosis

Background: Although many young adults with early psychosis (EP) desire to engage in a romantic relationship, many report having difficulties in engaging in such a relationship. However, almost no research has been conducted on factors potentially explaining impairments in their ability to form romantic relationships.

Aim: To compare an EP single young adult sample with single students or students in stable romantic relationships on factors that can cause difficulties in romantic relationship initiation processes METHODS: Cross-sectional study comparing these three groups (n = 83) on self-esteem, attachment, social functioning and perceived difficulties in dating.

Results: No significant group differences were found on self-esteem, although lack of confidence was the second most frequent reason evoked by EP participants when asked why they were single. EP participants had greater attachment preoccupation than students involved in a relationship. Single EP individuals rated their social interaction abilities higher compared with single students, but did not engage in social interactions more often. Both single EP participants and single students had more negative perceptions of their intimacy abilities and fewer intimacy behaviours compared with participants involved in a relationship.

Conclusions: Potential interventions to improve EP young adult's capacity to engage in romantic relationships could target perception of their interaction skills, preoccupation about being loved, negative perception of their intimacy abilities, frequency of intimacy related behaviours and lack of confidence.