The relationship between early maladaptive schemas, automatic thoughts, and cognitive flexibility in adults

In the present study, it was aimed to analyze the relationship between early maladaptive schemas, automatic thoughts and cognitive flexibility variables in the adult sample group. The sample of the study consists of 416 men and women between the ages of 18-65 who willing to participate to the study voluntarily. In order to measure the research variables, Young Schema Scale Short Form-3 (YSS-SF3), Automatic Thoughts Scale (ATS), Cognitive Flexibility Scale (CFS) and Sociodemographic Data Form were used. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 25 program. Using Pearson Correlation analysis, the relationships between Young Schema Scale, Cognitive Flexibility Scale and Automatic Thoughts Scale were examined. In order to analyze whether the research variables differed according to sociodemographic characteristics (gender, psychiatric diagnosis, and monthly income), Independent Samples T-Test and One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used. Predictiveness was checked by applying Multiple Linear Regression Analysis. According to the results of the study, it was found that there is a positive and significant relationship between early maladaptive schemas and automatic thoughts, a negative and significant relationship between early maladaptive schemas and cognitive flexibility, and a negative and significant relationship between automatic thoughts and cognitive flexibility. According to the results of the regression analysis, it was determined that automatic thoughts predicted cognitive flexibility, early maladaptive schemas predicted cognitive flexibility, and automatic thoughts predicted all schema domains. Research variables were found to differ according to the sociodemographic characteristics. The current research findings are discussed in terms of the literature.