Ontological insecurity II: Relationship to attachment, childhood trauma, and subclinical psychotic-like experiences.

Objectives: To examine ontological insecurity as a predictor of positive psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) relative to concepts of childhood trauma, parental bonding, and adult attachment style.

Methods: A nonclinical sample (N = 298) completed the Ontological Insecurity Scale (OIS-34), a new measure of ontological insecurity, along with measures of the above concepts.

Results: The OIS-34 accounted for a significantly greater proportion of unique variance in positive PLEs than any other theoretical variable.

Ontological insecurity I: Psychometric development of a new measure and relationship to subclinical psychotic-like experiences.

Objectives: The present study sought to develop a new psychometrically sound measure of ontological insecurity, the OIS-34 and, determine its relationship with subclinical psychotic-like experiences (PLEs).

Methods: A nonclinical sample (N = 600) completed an initial 60-item version of the new scale along with measures of PLEs, psychosis proneness, and mental health history.

Results: Exploratory factor analysis indicated a single factor, ontological insecurity, with 34 items loading positively and above a criterion of 0.