Residential instability during adolescence predicts earlier age at onset of psychosis: The moderating role of extraversion
Benson S. Ku, Elaine F. Walker, Benjamin G. Druss, Camille R. Murray, Michael T. Compton
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Residential instability (RI) during adolescence is associated with poor health outcomes. Also, extraversion has been shown to be a moderator of these associations. However, the associations between RI, extraversion, and age at onset of psychosis (AOP) remain unknown. METHODS: Data were collected from patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP). Linear regression models assessed the association between RI during adolescence and AOP. Extraversion was tested as a moderator using the interaction term RI-by-extraversion. RESULTS: Among 89 participants with FEP, both RI (adjusted β = -.278, p = .006) and the interaction term RI-by-extraversion (adjusted β = .290, p < .001) were associated with earlier AOP. Stratified analyses showed that RI was only significantly associated with earlier AOP among those with low extraversion (adjusted β = -.598, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: RI predicted earlier AOP and this association was moderated by extraversion. These findings suggest that extraversion may buffer the negative relationship between RI and AOP. Future research should replicate these findings.