Early maladaptive schemas and mental health: The sequential mediator role of neuropsychological personality traits and cognitive emotion regulation

The aim of the study was to examine the role of neuropsychological personality traits and cognitive emotion regulation (also called cognitive coping strategies) in the relationship between early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) and mental health. For this purpose, 497 participants with ages 18 to 65 years in Turkey voluntarily participated in the research. The data was gathered through Young Schema Questionnaire–Short Form 3, Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral Activation System Scales, Brief Symptom Inventory, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. In order to investigate their mediator role, Hayes's procedure for serial mediation analysis was conducted. The results revealed that neuropsychological personality traits and cognitive emotion regulation sequentially mediated the relationship between EMSs and mental health. In general, stronger schemas predicted higher levels of activation in the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS), which in turn predicted the increased use of the Less Adaptive Cognitive Coping Strategies (LACCS) or decreased used of the More Adaptive Cognitive Coping Strategies (MACCS) which in turn predicted more psychopathological symptoms. However, although Acceptance was categorized under MACCS, it was found to have a negative impact on this relationship; meaning that stronger schemas predicted higher levels of activation in BIS, which in turn predicted the increased use of Acceptance, which in turn was associated with more psychopathological symptoms. Regarding the relationship between EMSs and life satisfaction, stronger EMSs predicted increased levels of activation in BIS, which in turn predicted the decreased use of MACCS, which in turn decreased levels of life satisfaction. Furthermore, stronger EMSs in Disconnection/Rejection schema domain (DR) and the Impaired Autonomy/Other Directedness schema domain (IAOD) predicted decreased levels of activation in the Behavioral Activation System (BAS), which in turn predicted the decreased use of MACCS, which in turn decreased levels of life satisfaction. However, stronger schemas in the Impaired Limits/Exaggerated Standards schema domain (ILES) predicted the increased activation in BAS, which in turn the increased use in MACCS, which in turn increased levels of life satisfaction. Furthermore, only Self-Blame and Catastrophizing among LACCS serially mediated the relationship between EMSs and life satisfaction with BIS for only ILES and IAOD, but not for DR. Also, Self-Blame was found to serially mediate with BAS in this relationship for only IAOD. Lastly, Acceptance was found not to be associated with this relationship. Finally, implications of these findings were discussed in line with the relevant literature. Limitations and suggestions for future studies were also presented.