The effect of parenting styles on early maladaptive schemas with the mediating role of overcompensation and avoidance coping styles

Introduction: According to studies, the severity of maladaptive schemas is directly related to parenting experiences and coping methods.

Aim: The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of parenting styles on early maladaptive schemas with the mediating role of overcompensation and avoidance coping styles.

Method: This descriptive research was of the correlation type (structural equation modeling). The statistical population was all the students who were studying at the undergraduate level in the country, which was selected by the multistage cluster sampling method (after dividing the entire country into 5 areas and selecting 5 universities by the researcher and five trained colleagues), 1509 participants were selected as a sample and responded to Young Schema (YSQ-S3), Young Parenting (YPI), Young-Ray Avoidance (YRAI) and Young overcompensation (YCI) questionnaires. Data analysis was done by structural equation analysis using SPSS-23 and AMOS-24.

Results: The findings showed the appropriate fit of the model (RMSEA=.087, X2/df=31.77, CFI=.93). Parenting styles had a significant direct and positive effect (β=0.27) on early maladaptive schemas (P<0.01). Also, parenting styles had a significant indirect and positive effect (β=0.21) on early maladaptive schemas through the mediating variables of avoidance and overcompensation coping styles (P<0.01). Bootstrap approximation was used to analyze the significance of the effects.

Conclusion: The results of this research can be used to explain the factors affecting early maladaptive schemas and as a suitable model for designing comprehensive programs in this field.