Maladaptive schemas in non-clinical adolescents: Relations to perceived parental rearing behaviours, big five personality factors and psychopathological symptoms

The current study examined Jeffrey Young's (1994) maladaptive schemas in a sample of 173 non-clinical adolescents aged between 12 and 15 years. Participants completed an age-downward version of the Young Schema Questionnaire as well as self-report scales to assess perceptions of parental rearing behaviours, personality traits and psychopathological symptoms. Results indicated that detrimental rearing behaviours were associated with the presence of maladaptive schemas. Further, the personality trait of neuroticism was positively related to a broad range of maladaptive schemas. Some evidence was found indicating that neuroticism and detrimental parental rearing behaviours both accounted for a unique proportion of the variance in distorted thinking patterns. Finally, maladaptive schemas were linked to various types of psychological symptoms, including symptoms of anxiety disorders, depression, disruptive behaviour, eating problems and substance use. Altogether, these findings are well in line with Young's theory and seem to warrant more research on maladaptive schemas in young people. Copyright (C) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.