Spirituality, dimensional autism, and schizotypal traits: The search for meaning
PLoS ONE March 8, 2019 Bernard J. Crespi, Natalie L. Dinsdale, Silven Read et al. 68 citations
Spirituality relates differently to autism spectrum and schizotypal spectrum traits in a large sample of undergraduates. Total spirituality was negatively correlated with autism traits and positively correlated with positive schizotypal traits, supporting the diametrical model of autism and psychosis. These opposing associations were driven mainly by the Search for Meaning subscale, which was the only spirituality dimension significantly negatively linked to autism and positively linked to positive schizotypal traits. Belief in God was positively correlated with positive schizotypal traits but showed no correlation with autism traits. The opposite patterns for Search for Meaning align with cognitive models: weak central coherence in autism and enhanced salience in positive schizotypy.