The path analysis of early maladaptive schemas, coping strategies and mental quality of life

Aim and Background: Early maladaptive schemas are assumed to be a disrupting factor for quality of life. Yet, the mechanism of this vulnerability is not well known. The purpose of this study was to investigate mediating effect of coping strategies on the relationship between early maladaptive schemas in the domain of disconnection and rejection and mental quality of life. Methods and Materials: The research was a descriptive-correlational study. The statistical population was consisting of males and females who were 20 to 35 years old and they were residents of Isfahan in the year 1390. Two hundred and forty five of people were selected by available sampling method. They completed the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF), Coping Inventory for Stressful Situation (CISS) and WHOQOL-BREF Quality of life Questionnaire. Data was analyzed by using path analysis with SPSS 18 and LISREL 8.5. Findings: The path analysis indicated that emotion-focused strategy is the mediator on the relationship between emotional deprivation schema and mental quality of life (direct effect = -0.11, indirect effect = -0.07, P< 0.05) and between abandonment schema and mental quality of life (direct effect = -0.09, indirect effect = -0.04, P< 0.05). Conclusions: Coping strategies are mediator on the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and mental quality of life. Therefore, modification of coping strategies can improve mental quality of life in people who have early maladaptive schemas