The mediator role of close relationships, body image and self respect on the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and eating attitude

The main purpose of this study is to examine the mediating role of close relationships, body image and self respect on the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and eating attitude. In addition, it was aimed to evaluate the mediator role of close relationships, body image and self respect on the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and eating attitude in terms of the gender. The sample of the study consists of people aged between 18 and 38 years. There were 401 participants in the study. Of the study sample, 233 (58.1%) were female participants and 168 (41.9%) were male participants. Firstly, Demographic Information Form was given to learn the demographic characteristics of the participants. Then, within the framework of the research questions, several tests and scales are applied to the participants with corresponding targets as follows: Eating Attitude Test is applied in order to obtain information about eating attitude, the Young Schema Scale Short Form to evaluate early maladaptive schemas, the Relationship Assessment Scale to collect information about close relationships, Body Perception Scale to collect information about body perceptions and finally in order to evaluate self-esteem, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale is applied. In this study, firstly, mediator variable (mediator) analysis were conducted to investigate the mediator role of close relationships, body images and self respect on the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and eating attitude. Then, in order to see the differentiation according to gender, the analyzes were performed separately for female and male participants. According to the results of the research; in the general sample, it can be seen that the relational depression and body image are the mediator roles for relationship between early maladaptive schema domains and eating attitude while the relational self respect, relational obsessive thinking and self respect do not play a role for the relationship stated. Secondly, as a result of the analysis according to gender; for the female participants, the relational depression and body image plays the mediator roles, whereas the relational self respect, relational obsessive thinking and self respect are not, for the relationship between early maladaptive schema domains and eating attitude. In the other hand, for the male participants, the relational depression is the mediator for relationship between early maladaptive schema domains and eating attitude; however, relational self respect, relational obsessive thinking, body image and self respect are not. Considering the researches in the literature, the results of the research are discussed and the contributions of the research to the literature are stated.