Schizophrenia, social class and ethnic disadvantage. A study of first hospitalization among Israeli-born Jews

The social selection-social causation hypothesis on schizophrenia is examined in this study. Data were based on treated incidence (first admissions of Israel-born Jews to any psychiatric facility, country-wide). Ethnic origin and social class affiliation, measured by educational level, are examined simultaneously. Results would seem to indicate that the narrower categories of schizophrenia are associated with selection factors while in the wider category of disorders, social causation factors are supported.