Residential instability during adolescence predicts earlier age at onset of psychosis: The moderating role of extraversion

Abstract

AbstractIntroductionResidential 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.MethodsData 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.ResultsAmong 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).ConclusionsRI 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.