The role of insecure attachment and cognitive biases in the social functioning of schizophrenia spectrum patients.

OBJECTIVE The study investigates the relationship between cognitive biases and attachment styles and social functioning. METHOD Fifty-three patients (28 females, age M = 41.73, SD = 11.71) with the diagnosis of schizophrenia participated in the study. We measured attachment styles, cognitive biases, and social functioning using self-report questionnaires. Relationships among variables were investigated with correlational and regression analyses. RESULTS Correlation analysis indicated that social engagement, interpersonal behavior, pro-social activities, and independence-performance significantly correlate with both attachment styles and cognitive biases. However, in regression analysis, after controlling for attachment styles, only subjective cognitive problems turned out to be a significant predictor of social functioning. CONCLUSIONS These preliminary findings might suggest that both attachment styles and cognitive biases are associated with social functioning. Nonetheless, when considered together it might suggest attachment styles have a higher contribution than cognitive biases to social engagement, interpersonal behavior, and pro-social activities decline in schizophrenia spectrum disorders.