Risk and protective factors in the relation between early maladaptive schemas and emerging adulthood psychological well-being

Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMS) relate to psychological well-being, but little is known about which factors may mediate this relation. The purpose of this study was to examine to what extent cognitive flexibility, emotion regulation difficulties and perceived social support may explain why EMS as formed in early childhood may relate to psychological well-being during adolescence and early adulthood. Data were collected from two different samples, a clinical sample (N = 106) and a non-clinical one (N = 286). Regression analyses have shown that impaired autonomy was the most consistent predictor of life satisfaction and depression and that emotion regulation difficulties and perceived social support were the most consistent mediators of the relation of impaired autonomy to depression and life satisfaction in both samples. The findings were discussed in light of the EMS literature, followed by future research suggestions.