The effects of child abuse and neglect on psychopathological symptomatology: The roles of early maladaptive schemas and schema coping processes


Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Fen Edebiyat Fakültesi, Psikoloji Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2014

Öğrenci: ELİF ÜNAL

Danışman: TÜLİN GENÇÖZ

Özet:

The current study aimed (1) to examine gender, age, mothers’ education level, fathers’ education level, income, residence status and sibling number differences on Child Abuse/Neglect, Schema Domains, Schema Coping Processes, Psychopathological Symptomatology; (2) to determine the factors associated with schema domains, with schema coping processes, and with the measures of psychopathological symptomatology after controlling for other possible stressors in daily life. For these purpose, data was collected from 414 people between the ages 18-32. Results indicated that schemas were closely related to child abuse/neglect experiences. Moreover, Disconnection/Rejection schema domain and Schema Avoidance coping were associated, while Impaired Limits/Exaggerated Standards and Impaired Autonomy/Other Directedness schema domains were associated with Schema Compensation. In addition, psychopathological symptomatology was found to be associated with child abuse/neglect experiences. Moreover, Schema domains of Disconnection/Rejection and Impaired Autonomy/Other Directedness were found to be positively associated with depression symptomatology, Impaired Autonomy/Other Directedness schema domain was found to be positively associated with anxiety symptomatology, and only Impaired Limits/Exaggerated Standards schema domain was found to be positively associated with perceived stress. There were also significant associations between schema coping processes and psychopathological symptomatology. Firstly, among schema coping processes schema avoidance was found to be associated positively with anxious symptoms whereas negatively with perceived stress. Furthermore, schema compensation was negatively associated with depressive symptoms. These results revealed that early maladaptive schemas had a crucial role on the relationship between childhood maltreatment and psychopathology; and they supported the notion that individuals’ way of coping with their schemas also has an effect on psychological problems.