Comparison of the Effectiveness of Mindfulness Therapy and Schema Therapy on Early Maladaptive Schemas in Students

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of two therapeutic approaches, schema therapy and mindfulness, on early maladaptive schemas in students. Methodology: This quasi-experimental study utilized a pretest-posttest control group design. The statistical population consisted of second-grade high school students in Tehran, from which 45 students were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental groups (15 students each) and a control group (15 students). The experimental groups participated in either schema therapy (8 sessions of 120 minutes each over 8 weeks) or mindfulness therapy (7 sessions of 90 minutes each over 7 weeks). The research instrument used was the Young Schema Questionnaire (1998), administered in both the pretest and posttest phases. Findings: Analysis of covariance revealed that both therapeutic approaches led to a significant reduction in early maladaptive schemas compared to the control group. However, schema therapy was found to be more effective than mindfulness in improving these schemas, particularly in components such as emotional deprivation, abandonment, mistrust, social isolation, and defectiveness/shame. Conclusion: Based on the findings, it can be concluded that schema therapy, with its deeper focus on the cognitive and emotional roots of schemas, is more effective than mindfulness in improving and modifying early maladaptive schemas. Schema therapy can be considered a valuable approach for treating psychological disorders associated with early maladaptive schemas.