Mediating Role of Resilience in the Relation Between Early Maladaptive Schemas and Adult Separation Anxiety Symptoms

Objective: This study aimed to examine the mediating role of psychological resilience in the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and adult separation anxiety symptoms. Method: The sample of the study consisted of a total of 332 undergraduate students, 196 female (60.9%) and 126 male (39.1%), who were studying in Western Türkiye. The participants were between the age of 18-30 years (M=21.05, SD=1.58). Young Schema Scale-Short Form-3, Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire, Psychological Resilience Scale for Adults and Sociodemographic Form were applied. Results: There is a significant positive relationship between impaired autonomy (r=.46), disconnection (r=.23), other-directedness (r=.28) and unrelenting standards (r=.28) schema domains and adult separation anxiety symptoms. Female participants have higher separation anxiety symptoms than males. According to the mediation analyses in which gender was controlled, self-perception which is one of the sub-dimensions of resilience has a mediator role between disconnection (β= .06 BC 95% CI [.03-.09]), other-directedness (β=.05 BC 95% CI [.01-.10]) and high standards and symptoms of adult separation anxiety. Additionally, it has been concluded that another sub-dimension of resilience, social resources, has a suppressive effect on the relationship between impaired autonomy (β=-.02 BC 95% CI [-.04,-.00]) and disconnection (β=-.06 BC 95% CI [-.12,-.01]) schema domains and symptoms of adult separation anxiety. Conclusion: It can be stated that psychological resilience has a protective role against the negative effects of early maladaptive schemas on adult separation anxiety symptoms.