The relationships between personality disorders and early maladaptive schemas and the moderating role of gender

Abstract

Objective The aims of this study were to examine the relationship between personality disorders (PDs) and early maladaptive schemas, to determine the early maladaptive schemas that predict PDs, and to investigate the moderating role of gender in the relationship between PDs and early maladaptive schemas. Methods The sample consisted of 654 participants, 368 (56.4%) women and 286 (43.6%) men, aged 18–75 years, determined by the convenience sampling method. Data were collected using Coolidge Axis II Inventory Plus Turkish Short Form and Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form 3. Results From regression analysis, it was determined that each PD had a specific early maladaptive schema profile. According to the analysis, the schema that predicts the most for paranoid, schizotypal, schizoid, antisocial, borderline, obsessive-compulsive, and avoidant PDs is social isolation/mistrust; for histrionic and narcissistic PDs, the schema is approval seeking, and for dependent PD, it is failure. The analysis related to the moderating role of gender indicated that for women, the emotional deprivation schema is a risk factor for paranoid PD, and the schemas of self-sacrifice, punitiveness, and unrelenting standards are the risk factors for avoidant PD. Conclusion This study discovered that some early maladaptive schemas were predictors of PDs and that gender had a moderating role in the relationship between these variables. It is thought that paying attention to the moderating role of gender and considering the specific schema profiles of each PD will be beneficial for intervention programs for early maladaptive schemas and understanding the etiology of PDs.

Looking at Sex Differences in Gambling Disorder: The Predictive Role of the Early Abandonment Schema, Gambling Motives and Alexithymia in Depression

“…Relationships between EMS and mental health disorders have widely been studied, including substance and behavioural addictions, such as GD, interpersonal problems or depression, among others (Aloi et al, 2020 ; Bishop et al, 2022 ; Shorey et al, 2012 ). Of note is that women tend to experience higher levels of EMS than men (Bilge & Balaban, 2021 ; Janson et al, 2019 ). One of the dimensions of EMS related to GD is “Disconnection/Rejection”, which includes the schema of abandonment (Efrati et al, 2022 ).…”

The Relationship Between Early Maladaptive Schemas, Separation Anxiety and Emerging Adult Individuation Level

“…Among the diagnostic criteria of histrionic personality disorder, there are desires to be the center of attention, to be appreciated and to be liked. These wishes are related to the fact that people always need the approval of others in order to feel valuable (Bilge & Balaban, 2021).…”

“…It is seen that people who have distorted beliefs about relationships make wrong inferences when perceiving others and their relationships, and therefore experience SA (Çam & Çelik, 2018). This situation reaches visible dimensions in individuals with avoidant personality disorder (Bilge and Balaban, 2021) and borderline personality disorder (Faraji, 2021). Social isolation schema is formed as a result of exclusion and humiliation experiences in childhood (Roediger, 2020).…”

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

“…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.…”