Current psychotic-like experiences among adolescents in China: Identifying risk and protective factors

Objective: This study aim to explore the prevalence of current PLEs over past month and relevant influential factors among adolescents. Methods: A total of 67,538 students completed one online survey between April 21st and May 12th, 2021. Current PLEs were assessed using the 8-item Positive Subscale of the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE-P8). Participants were defined as having frequent PLEs if they selected “often” or “nearly always” on one or more items of CAPE-P8. Family function, school climate and a series of socio-demographic were also evaluated. Results: In this sample, 49.3% adolescents reported having at least one PLE over the past month, while 15.4% experienced high frequent PLEs. Alcohol intake was positively associated with high frequent PLEs (OR = 2.61, 95% CI = 2.37–2.88). Adolescents with chronic physical illness (OR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.73–2.18) or family history of psychiatric illness (OR = 2.61, 95% CI = 2.22–2.77) were more likely to suffer from high frequent PLEs. Dysfunction family function (OR _moderate = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.98–2.09; OR _severe = 6.98, 95% CI = 6.48–7.53) or poor school climate (OR = 3.14, 95% CI = 2.93–3.37) was associated with elevated high frequent PLEs. Conclusions: Several factors of socio-demographics, unhealthy lifestyle, family and school environments are found to be related to frequent PLEs. These factors should also be taken into consideration for effective psychosocial intervention in adolescents.