Investigation of the relationship between social anxiety and early maladaptive schemas in young adults

In this study, social anxiety in young adult individuals was evaluated. One of the factors that cause the formation of social anxiety is early incompatible schemes. It is thought that the events faced by individuals early in their lives can affect social anxiety. This research aims to examine the relationship between early incompatible schemes and social anxiety in young adult individuals. It is also to indicate how these early mismatched schemes differ between the sexes in their relationship with social anxiety Young Schema Scale and Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale were used in this research. In addition, the Sociodemographic Information Form prepared by the researcher was used. The research sample consists of young adults between the ages of 18 and 29. 172 (52.3%) Female and 157 (47.7%) male individuals answered the survey questions. All of the individuals who participated in the study were between the ages of 18 and 29. The data obtained from the assessment instruments during the research process were analyzed using the SPSS program. According to the findings of the study, a significant relationship is observed between social anxiety and early maladaptive schemas seen in young adults. A positive correlation was found between the early maladaptive schema domains of disconnection and rejection, impaired autonomy and performance, others-directedness, hyperarousal and suppression schema domains, and social anxiety. There is a negative correlation between the damaged boundaries schema domain and social anxiety. In addition, a significant difference was observed when the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and social anxiety was examined in terms of gender. Significant differences were observed in the domain of impaired autonomy and performance and in the domain of impaired boundaries, according to gender, and the scores of men were higher than women in both domains of schemas. Keywords: Early Maladaptive Schemas, Social Anxiety