The mediating role of self-esteem in the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and body image

The aim of this study is to examine the mediating role of self-esteem in the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and body image. A total of 355 participants, including 309 women and 46 men aged between 18 and 64, participated in the study with informed consent obtained through a consent form. Data collection tools included the Demographic Information Form, Young Schema Questionnaire Short Form (YSQ-SF3), Body Image Scale, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Before proceeding to the analysis phase, outlier and normality assumptions were tested. The Skewness and Kurtosis values indicated that the data followed a normal distribution and were suitable for parametric analyses. The data were analyzed using an independent samples t-test, Pearson Correlation Coefficient, and Hayes' bootstrap technique. In the mediation model, early maladaptive schemas were included as the independent variable, self-esteem as the mediating variable, and body image as the dependent variable. Standard multiple regression analysis was conducted to examine the effects of all subdimensions of the Young Schema Questionnaire on body image. The analysis revealed that the emotional deprivation, failure, approval-seeking, and enmeshment/dependence schemas were significantly related to body image, with self-esteem playing a mediating role in these relationships.The results indicated a partially negative relationship between the subdimensions of early maladaptive schemas and body image. Additionally, moderate positive and negative correlations were found between early maladaptive schemas and self-esteem. The relationship between self-esteem and body image was found to be moderately positive. The data were analyzed using SPSS 26 and JAMOVI 2.3.28 software. These findings were discussed in light of relevant literature, and the results demonstrated that the effect of early maladaptive schemas on body image was partially explained by the mediating role of self-esteem. Keywords: Early Maladaptive Schemas, Body Image, Self-esteem, Low Self-Esteem, High Self-Esteem.