Interplay Among Reward Processing, Schizotypal Traits, and Psychosocial Stress in a Large Chinese Young Adult Sample: A Cross‐Sectional Network Analysis

Reward processing comprises reward sensitivity, motivation, and pleasure experience, but how these components jointly relate to schizotypal traits and psychosocial stress in young adult samples remains unclear. Using network analysis in a large Chinese young adult sample (N = 6814), we examined multivariate associations among reward sensitivity (BAS), schizotypal traits (MSS), reward motivation (MAP-SR), pleasure experience (TEPS), and psychosocial stress (ERI). The results indicated that BAS-Fun seeking showed the highest strength centrality and expected influence. MSS-Disorganized schizotypal traits served as a bridge node between reward sensitivity and reward motivation and pleasure experience. Subsequent mediation analysis also supported these findings. Network comparison tests indicated no difference in global strength between the high- and low-psychosocial-stress groups, but a significant difference in overall network structure. These findings highlight impulsive Fun seeking and disorganized schizotypal traits as potentially informative targets for mechanistic and intervention-oriented research across the psychosis continuum in young adult cohorts.