Psychometric Properties of the Italian Version of the Young Schema Questionnaire L-3: Preliminary Results

Aristide Saggino,Maria R Sergi,Davide Dèttore,Veronica Cavalletti,Michela Balsamo,Giorgio Da Fermo,Nicola Marsigli,Irene Petruccelli,Leonardo Carlucci,Susanna Pizzo,Marco Tommasi

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00312

Abstract

Schema Therapy (ST) is a well-known approach for the treatment of personality disorders. This therapy integrates different theories and techniques into an original and systematic treatment model. The Young Schema Questionnaire L-3 (YSQ-L3) is a self-report instrument, based on the ST model, designed to assess 18 Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMSs). During the last decade, it has been translated and validated in different countries and languages. This study aims to establish the psychometric properties of the Italian Version of the YSQ-L3. We enrolled two groups: a clinical (n = 148) and a non-clinical one (n = 918). We investigated the factor structure, reliability and convergent validity with anxiety and depression between clinical and non-clinical groups. The results highlighted a few relevant findings. Cronbach's alpha showed significant values for all the schemas. All of the factor models do not seem highly adequate, even if the hierarchical model has proven to be the most significant one. Furthermore, the questionnaire confirms the ability to discriminate between clinical and non-clinical groups and could represent a useful tool in the clinical practice. Limitations and future directions are discussed.

Highlights

Schema Therapy (ST; Young, 1994; Young et al, 2003) provided an innovative approach to psychotherapy aiming to treat patients with chronic psychological problems
We investigated the reliability of the Young Schema Questionnaire L-3 (YSQ-L3), as well as its convergent validity by computing associations between the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ)-L3 and concurrent measures of anxiety and depression
Given the heterogeneity of the results reported in literature regarding the latent factor structure of Young’s Early Maladaptive Schemas” (EMSs), most of which referred to the different YSQ versions, we compared five alternative factor models for the Italian version of the YSQ-L3

Summary

Introduction

Schema Therapy (ST; Young, 1994; Young et al, 2003) provided an innovative approach to psychotherapy aiming to treat patients with chronic psychological problems. Psychometric Properties of the Italian YSQ-L-3 therapy, Attachment Theory, Object Relations Theory and emotional-focused models (Young, 1994). Influenced by these theories, Young and colleagues (Young, 1994; Young et al, 2003) developed the “Early Maladaptive Schemas” (EMSs) concept, as a broad, pervasive, trait-like, cognitive and emotional selfdefeating pattern, concerning beliefs about the self, others and the future. Little evidence seemed to support the association between early relational experiences and EMSs (e.g., Muris, 2006; Wright, 2007) as well as between schemas and psychopathology symptoms such as depression and anxiety in adulthood (Halvorsen et al, 2009; Hawke et al, 2011; Renner et al, 2012; Riso et al, 2017), or in youth (Van Vlierberghe et al, 2010; Balsamo et al, 2015c), even though some authors maintained that infant attachment may be an overrated predictor (e.g., Meins, 2017)

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Results

Conclusion