Early maladaptive schemas and perceived impact of COVID-19: the moderating role of sex and gambling

Ample evidence indicates that early maladaptive schemas play an important role in the perceived impact of COVID-19 on individuals. Likewise, people with gambling disorder (GD), as well as women, show more maladaptive schemas than people without an addictive condition and men. However, no research to date has investigated the interrelationship between maladaptive schemas and the perceived impact of COVID-19, and even fewer studies have disaggregated the results by sex and clinical condition. This study aimed to examine the relationship between maladaptive schemas and the perceived impact of COVID-19 (i.e., emotional, physical, occupational, social, care, and quality of life). Second, we assessed the moderating role of sex and clinical group (i.e., gambling vs. non-gambling) on this relationship. A case-control study was performed with 160 participants, specifically 80 people with GD and 80 non-gamblers. The findings showed that individuals with greater maladaptive schemas showed higher COVID-19 impact. Moreover, gamblers presented higher maladaptive schemas and lower COVID-19 impact. Finally, the outcomes indicated that the male sex moderates the failure and imperfection schemas and the perceived impact on occupational and physical health, while the female sex moderates the attachment schemas and the global impact. These findings underscore the necessity of incorporating variables such as sex and GD when tailoring strategies for prevention, evaluation, and intervention for individuals. Additionally, the significance of adopting a gender-inclusive perspective was emphasized.