Mediating role of neuroticism between early maladaptive schemas and negative emotionality

Abstract

BackgroundThe study contributes to the understanding of the relation between neuroticism, early maladaptive schemas and negative emo-tionality. Various studies of schemas and neuroticism with the connection of negative emotionality do not give an answer to the question how these three variables co-exist with each other. The main purpose of the research was to determine whether neuroti-cism strengthens the effect of schemas in the prediction of intensity of anxiety and depression, or whether the roles of these variables are independent of each other.Participants and procedure493 healthy participants were included in the study, where 66% were female respondents and the age range was 16-61 years of age (M = 31.00, SD = 11.96). The Young Schema Questionnaire Short Form Version (YSQ-S3), the Revised Personality In-ventory (NEO PI-R) by Costa and McCrae and the Personality Inventory (SPI, TPI by Spielberger & Reheiser) were used.ResultsThe results show a strong relationship between Rejection and Disconnection schemas and negative emotionality, strongly medi-ated by neuroticism. The trigger for the trait of neuroticism is the intensification of depressive traits, understood as a set of emo-tional symptoms, i.e. a high level of anxiety, experiencing frequent anger towards oneself, and simultaneously a strong sense of guilt for negative thoughts resulting in a sense of hopelessness.ConclusionsMost of the problems leading to anxiety or depression symptoms originate in schemas of Rejection and Disconnection and neu-roticism is a strong mediator for negative emotionality.