An i̇nvesti̇gati̇on of i̇nterplay between early maladapti̇ve schemas, psychosomati̇c symptoms and self-compassi̇on: The role of doi̇ng yoga

The aim of this study is to compare the individuals who practice yoga with the individuals who does not practice yoga in terms of their early maladaptive schemas, somatic symptoms, and self-compassion. Socio-demographic questions, Young Schema Scale (YSQ-S3), Self-compassion Scale and Somatization Scale were utilized. The scales employed were collected via the internet by snowball sampling. The data obtained from the scales were examined by ANOVA and MANOVA to measure the effect of demographic variables on somatic symptoms, self-compassion levels and early maladaptive schemas. Results revealed that gender, level of education, level of income, and practicing yoga had a significant effect on somatization. Accordingly, the groups who has a relatively higher education, higher levels of income, or practicing yoga displayed lower levels of somatization. Individuals who practice yoga, has more self-compassion (i.e., higher levels of selfkindness and mindfulness). In addition, a significant positive effect of practicing yoga has been found on early maladaptive schemas, namely enmeshment/ undeveloped self, self-sacrifice, unrelenting standards, approval seeking, pessimism, and punitiveness. Hierarchical Multiple Regression analysis was employed to identify the predictors of self-compassion and somatization. Results revealed that practicing yoga and economic level having higher scores on positive predictive effect on self-compassion and the impaired autonomy/other directedness dimension of the early maladaptive schemas and unrelenting standards dimension of the early maladaptive schemas have negative predictive effects on self-compassion. Secondly, it has been found out that practicing yoga had a positive predictive effect on somatization along with disconnection/rejection dimension of the early maladaptive schemas and negative sub-dimension of self-compassion. Key words: Yoga practice, Self-compassion, Early Maladaptive Schemas, Somatization