Predicting Adolescent Girls' Anxiety by Early Maladaptive Schemas of their Mothers with the Mediation of their Self-Differentiation and Early Maladaptive Schemas

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to predict adolescent girls' anxiety based on early maladaptive schemas of their mothers with the mediation of their self-differentiation and early maladaptive schemas. The statistical population of this study included all adolescent girls in the 7th, 8th, and 9th grade in Fardis City (located in Alborz Province) during the first semester of 2019-2020. The sample was selected using the convenience sampling method, and included 300 participants. The measurement tools included Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)); Differentiation of Self Inventory (DSI), and Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ). Structural equation modeling was utilized to analyze the data. The results showed that the direct coefficient path between maternal maladaptive schemas and anxiety was positive and significant. The indirect coefficient path between maternal maladaptive schemas and anxiety was positive and significant with the mediation role of self-differentiation and early maladaptive schemas. Educating parents, especially mothers, to reduce the manifestations of their maladaptive schemas in their relationships with their children, as well as focusing on personality preparations in treating anxiety is recommended to therapists and clinicians.

Keywords

• anxiety
• self-differentiation
• girls
• mothers
• early maladaptive schemas