There is evidence that social support predicts self-esteem and related moods for individuals with psychotic disorders. There has, however, been little investigation of relative importance of specific components of social support.

Evidence from social psychology suggests that perceived relational evaluation (PRE) or the extent to which individuals see others as valuing them, is a particularly important determinant of self-esteem and mood.

The current study compared the importance of PRE and other types of social support, in predicting self-esteem and depressive mood, anxiety and anger hostility in a sample of patients in an early intervention program for psychotic disorders.

One hundred and two patients of the Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychoses (PEPP) in London, Ontario completed measures of PRE, appraisal, tangible and general emotional social support, self-esteem and mood. in addition, ratings of positive and negative symptoms were completed for all participants.

In general, perceived relational evaluation was the most important predictor of self-esteem and mood. These relationships were not a result of confounding with positive or negative symptoms.

The extent to which an individual perceives himself or herself as being positively valued by those in his or her immediate social environment is a particularly important component of social support in predicting self-esteem and affect of individuals with a psychotic disorder