Investigation of the relationship between early maladaptive schemas, temperament and eating attitude in adults

Abstract

Background Current research on eating attitude has focused primarily on female perspective (Kapoor et al. in J Educ Health Promot 11(80):1–7, 2022; Piko et al. in J Prev Med Hyg. 63(1):83–89, 2022). To extend cross-gender approaches, this study aimed to examine the relationship between early maladaptive schemas, temperament, and eating attitude and to see whether these three concepts differ between men and women. Methods The sample group consists of a total of 308 participants, 206 (66.9%) women and 102 (33.1%) men, living in Bursa and participating in the research voluntarily. In the study, Sociodemographic Data Form was used to obtain personal information of the participants, Young Schema Questionnaire—Short Form 3 was used to evaluate early maladaptive schemas, Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San-Diego Autoquestionnaire was used to evaluate temperament characteristics and Eating Attitude Test was used to evaluate eating attitudes. Results As a result of the study, a moderate and positive relationship was found between the Defectiveness, Emotional Inhibition, Enmeshment/Dependence, Failure, Abandonment, Vulnerability to Harm or Illness, Negativity/Pessimism schemas and eating attitude. Among these schemas, Defectiveness was found to be the best predictor of deterioration in eating attitude. A weak and positive relationship was found between the scores obtained from the Eating Attitude Test and Cyclothymic and Irritable temperaments, and a moderate positive relationship with Anxious temperament. Among these temperaments, Anxious temperament was found to be the best predictor of deterioration in eating attitude. Conclusions When the results were examined, a relationship was observed between early maladaptive schemas and temperament types, and this relationship was examined in detail. The results obtained at the end of the study were discussed and suggestions were made for future studies.

Potential applications of Schema Therapy in the treatment of adolescents with anorexia nervosa: a theoretical analysis

“…Early Maladaptive Schemas are described as persistent themes developed during childhood, and elaborated on throughout the life course, based on experiences regarding oneself and one’s relationships with others, especially within a hostile, critical, abusive, and neglectful environment [ 27 ]. Unsatisfied core needs, which are inadequate for the purpose of the child’s healthy development in their early environment, can be grouped into five domains: disconnection and rejection (formed as a result of experiences of abusive, unaffectionate or unstable family systems), impaired autonomy and performance (which is a result of excessive parental attention or no regard at all), impaired limits (which is a result of an overly liberal family environment), other directedness (effect of conditional love and acceptance from caretakers), and over-vigilance and inhibition (which are the result of a harsh parental approach) [ 97 ]. Coping Styles are used to describe the ways an individual adapts to the environment, and include three main strategies: overcompensation (behaving opposite to the schema), surrendering (acting according to the schema), and avoidance (avoiding schema activation).…”

Early Maladaptive Schemas’ Associations with Big-Five Personality Traits in Two Non-Clinical Adult Samples from Different Cultural Backgrounds

“…Unaddressed EMSs, activated in adulthood, can lead to a wide range of mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, or personality disorders (Bilge & Balaban, 2021;Güler & Özgörüş, 2022;Jain & Singh, 2022;Shorey, Stuart, & Anderson, 2014;Stavropoulos et al, 2020). However, EMSs can be addressed through psychotherapy; e.g., cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), including schema therapy, which might help individuals identify and challenge their negative schemas and develop more adaptive ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving (Young, 2014).…”

“…Some studies explored links between EMSs and personality traits in clinical and non-clinical samples. The findings revealed that while the links between EMSs and personality traits are more or less evident in clinical samples (Bilge & Balaban, 2021;Esmaeilian et al, 2019;Güler & Özgörüş, 2022;Pauwels et al, 2016;Shojaati, Kalantari, & Mulavi, 2019;Shorey, Stuart, & Anderson, 2014;Yığman et al, 2021), the associations between EMSs and personality traits in healthy individuals need deeper investigation. This research aimed to explore the links between EMSs and personality traits in healthy individuals (without a clinical diagnosis of mental illness).…”

“…Previous research demonstrated that personality and EMSs are related and can interact with each other in complex ways (Bilge & Balaban, 2021;Etemadnia et al, 2021;Güler & Özgörüş, 2022;Pauwels et al, 2016;Shojaati, Kalantari, & Mulavi, 2019;Shorey, Stuart, & Anderson, 2014;Stavropoulos et al, 2020;Thimm, 2011;Yığman et al, 2021). However, the relationship between these constructs still remains an area of ongoing research.…”

Mapping the Path to Cognitive Balance: Applying the States of Mind Model and Network Analysis to Eating Disorder Patients

“…Females are dispropor-tionately affected by EDs and, compared with male counterparts, report greater severity of ED symptoms [ 3 , 4 ]. Indeed, females generally report greater cognitive vulnerability in terms of early maladaptive schemas compared with males [ 5 , 6 ] and in association with sexual and marital dissatisfaction [ 7 , 8 ] as well as in association with eating attitudes [ 1 ]. While the empirical relationship between maladaptive cognitions such as negative self-beliefs and ED symptoms has been extensively supported in females with EDs [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ] the assessment of functional adaptive beliefs regarding the self, others, and the world in this clinical population is frequently ignored [ 14 , 18 ].…”