Moderation Effect of Emotional Expressivity on the Associations Between Schizotypal Traits, Autistic Traits and Social Pleasure

Abstract

Diminished social pleasure has been reported in people with schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Previous studies suggested that emotional expressivity is closely correlated with social pleasure. However, the underlying psychological mechanisms between traits related to schizophrenia and ASD, emotional expressivity, and social pleasure remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between subclinical schizotypal and autistic traits, facial expressions, and social pleasure. Eighty-six healthy participants (mean age = 20.35 ± 0.26 years, 44 males) were recruited to complete an emotion elicitation task and an autobiographical recalling task, while their facial expressions were videotaped for computerized analysis using the FaceReader. The intensity of different facial expressions (happy, sad, angry, surprised, scared, and disgusted), valence, and arousal were extracted. The self-report Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale (MSS), Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), and Anticipatory and Consummatory Interpersonal Pleasure Scale (ACIPS) were administered to measure subclinical traits and social pleasure. Partial correlation analysis and moderation analysis were performed. Both schizotypal and autistic traits were negatively correlated with social pleasure. The moderation effects of angry facial expression for both schizotypal and autistic traits on their associations with social pleasure were significant. In addition, scared and surprised facial expressions moderated the associations between positive and negative dimensions of schizotypy and social pleasure, while arousal moderated the associations between autistic traits and social pleasure. Our study identified different moderating effects of facial emotion expressions on schizotypal and social anhedonia and autistic traits and social anhedonia, thereby revealing possible different psychopathological mechanisms underlying similar social anhedonia in subclinical populations.