Comparison of Early Maladaptive Schemas and Positive and Negative Affect in Individuals with Anxiety Disorders and Normal Individuals
Keywords:
Anxiety, early maladaptive schemas, positive affect, negative affectAbstract
The objective of this study was to compare early maladaptive schemas and levels of positive and negative affect between individuals diagnosed with anxiety disorders and psychologically normal individuals. This applied, descriptive–causal-comparative study was conducted on individuals who referred to counseling centers in Qom during 2022–2023. The sample consisted of 60 participants, including 30 individuals diagnosed with anxiety disorders by a psychiatrist and 30 normal individuals, selected through convenience sampling. Data collection instruments included the Young Early Maladaptive Schemas Questionnaire–Short Form and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. Data were analyzed using independent-samples t tests with SPSS version 26 after verifying assumptions of normality and homogeneity of variances through Levene’s test. Inferential analyses revealed statistically significant differences between the two groups on all schema domains. Individuals with anxiety disorders scored significantly higher on Disconnection and Rejection (t = 11.035, p < .001), Impaired Autonomy and Performance (t = 11.597, p < .001), Other-Directedness (t = 6.875, p < .001), Overvigilance and Inhibition (t = 9.174, p < .001), and Impaired Limits (t = 10.594, p < .001). Furthermore, the anxiety group exhibited significantly lower Positive Affect (t = 9.167, p < .001) and significantly higher Negative Affect (t = 11.194, p < .001) compared with the normal group. The findings indicate that individuals with anxiety disorders demonstrate a pervasive pattern of maladaptive cognitive schemas accompanied by profound affective dysregulation, characterized by elevated negative affect and diminished positive affect, highlighting the importance of integrative cognitive–emotional models in the understanding and treatment of anxiety disorders.
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Copyright (c) 2023 Seyed Mohammad Ebrahim Montazeri (Author); Seyyed Reza Seyyed Tabaei
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