Early maladaptive schemas: Relations to attachment in early adulthood

Abstract

Early maladaptive schemas are developed early in the childhood as a result of combining the effects of vulnerabilities and dysfunctional experiences in close relationships within a care giving system. They represent pervasive themes that influence significantly self-perceptions and interpersonal relationships by forming basic believes considering close relations. The research presented in this paper aimed to investigate and describe the relations between early maladaptive schemas and attachment in early adulthood. The research focused on the relations of early maladaptive schema to insecure attachment patterns and the dimensions of internal working model of attachment such as anxiety and avoidance. The schemas differed significantly according to the attachment style grouping, with the preoccupied group possessing the greatest and the secure group possessing the lowest degree of early maladaptive schemas. The results indicated significant correlations among early maladaptive schemas and the dimensions of internal working model of attachment. Some schemas were related to anxiety (forming the cognitive pattern of anxiety in close relationships) and some to avoidance (forming the cognitive pattern of avoidance in close relationships).