Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form Research Articles

Shame and Defectiveness Beliefs in Treatment Seeking Patients With Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

Shame is a distressing emotion experienced when individuals judge themselves in a broadly negative and critical manner. Clinical descriptions of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) emphasize the centrality of shame, yet research on shame in BDD remains scarce. This study is the largest investigation of shame in clinically diagnosed individuals with BDD, and it is the first to examine whether shame changes with treatment. Eighty-three adults with BDD were treated with 14 weeks of open-label escitalopram. Shame was measured using the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form. Shame was significantly higher in individuals with BDD than in previously reported healthy control and psychiatric outpatient samples. Shame was significantly, moderately correlated with greater suicidal thoughts and hopelessness and marginally significantly correlated with greater BDD severity. Shame decreased significantly with treatment. Reductions in shame with escitalopram were significantly associated with reductions in suicidal thoughts and hopelessness, even when accounting for reductions in BDD and depression severity.

Symptoms of Oppositional Defiant in Students: The Predicting Role of Emotion Regulation, Schema, and Vandalism

Background: Numerous studies demonstrated that emotional dysregulation and early maladaptive schemas are the defining core of oppositional defiant disorder. Many studies also found a strong correlation between the diagnosis of oppositional defiant disorder and vandalism. Objectives: The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between Symptoms of Oppositional Defiant and emotion regulation, schema, and vandalism in male high school students in Dezfoul, the Southwest of Iran. Patients and Methods: A sample of high school students (n = 320) with a mean age of 16.34 (SD = 0.66) years completed Oppositional Defiant Behavior Inventory pilot version (ODBI), Difficulties in Emotion-Regulation Scale (DERS), Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF), and Questionnair of Vandalism (QV). Data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient and multivariate regression analysis. Results: The results showed a significant positive correlation between emotion regulation, schema, and vandalism with Symptoms of Oppositional Defiant. Regression analysis revealed that 12% variance of Symptoms of Oppositional Defiant can be predicted by emotion dysregulation, schema, and vandalism. Moreover, emotion dysregulation was the most effective predicting variable of oppositional defiant disorder (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The findings of the current study were in accordance with those of the previous studies, and generally showed a significant association between emotion regulation, schema, and vandalism with oppositional defiant disorder. Study implications and limitations were considered.

Young Schema Questionnaire: Factor Structure and Specificity in Relation to Anxiety in Chinese Adolescents.

ObjectiveThe goal of this study was to examine the factor structure of Young Schema Questionnaire-short form (YSQ-SF) in a sample of Chinese adolescents, and to explore which maladaptive schemas were associated with anxiety symptoms.MethodsYSQ-SF was administered to 983 nonclinical Chinese adolescents aged 13–17 years. Confirmatory factor analyses with weighted least squares means and variance adjusted estimation were conducted to examine the factor structure of YSQ-SF. Stepwise regression analyses were performed to identify schemas associated with anxiety symptoms.ResultsA bifactor model with 15 correlated factors fitted the data better than other priori defined models. Stepwise regressions showed Vulnerability to harm, Abandonment, Emotional inhibition, Subjugation, and Unrelenting standards schemas were associated with anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, different anxiety symptoms were associated with common and distinctive schemas.ConclusionMaladaptive schemas were already stably formed in Chinese adolescents, however there's no robust evidence for the existence of domain. The explanatory value of maladaptive schemas for understanding psychopathology of anxiety in adolescence is discussed.

Reliability and Validity of the Ukrainian Version of the Young Schema Questionnaire - Short Form 3 (YSQ-S3)

Objective: This study aims to investigated the reliability and validity of the Ukrainian version of third version of the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ-S3; Young, 2005) and provide expected scores for nonclinical samples. Method: The latest version of the questionnaire, the YSQ-S3, has received little attention, and its Ukrainian adaptation has yet to be validated. The participants were 1200 nonclinical persons of both gender, male (55%) and female (45%). The majority of participants had a bachelor's degree, which includes 31% of the statistical sample. The Young Schema Questionnaire assesses early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) and schema domains. This study performed reliability analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and second and third-order confirmatory factor analysis. TheYSQ-S3 proved to be reliable and corresponded to the theoretically proposed 18-dimensional structure. Results: Schema scores were positively associated with measures of psychopathology and personality disorder, indicating convergent validity. The results of the study showed that due to the Cronbach's alpha that is higher than 0.7, the reliability of all variables is desirable. Confirmatory factor analyses support the schema domains. We conclude that the YSQ-S3 is a psychometrically sound instrument that can be used Ukraine in research on early maladaptive schemas. Further research is necessary particularly in larger clinical samples.

Alcohol use disorder and emotional abuse: the mediating role of early maladaptive schemas

Objective: Studies have shown a relationship between the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and the existence of childhood traumas (CT). In this study, in order to gain a better understanding of the association between CT and AUD, the relationship between CT and AUD was analyzed. Further, it was investigated whether Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMS) play a mediating role in the relationship between emotional abuse (EA) and AUD. Methods: The participants were consecutively admitted male alcohol-dependent inpatients (n=220) and healthy controls (n=108). The participants were investigated with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-28), Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF) and Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST). Mediation ana-lyses were conducted in order to evaluate the mediating effect of EMS between the relationship of AUD and CT. Results: The difference between CT total score and the EA score between the control group and the AUD group were statistically significant. An analysis of different types of traumas in the correlation with AUD revealed EA as the main predictor of AUD both directly and through its mediating effect with the EMS. In addition, it was determined that in the relationship between EA and AUD, EMS such as Enmeshment, Emotional Inhibition, Dependence and Insufficient Self-Control had mediating effect. Discussion: CT, especially EA are quite common in male inpatients with AUD and the negative effects of EA may play an important role in the development of AUD by causing EMS. Our findings imply that those with EA history in childhood may be particularly vulnerable to the development of AUD in adulthood. Therefore, in the prevention of the development and in the treatment of AUD, it may be useful to take into consideration EA experiences, to screen EMS that may mediate such relationship through scales and to conduct interventions in this regard.

Associations Between Early Maladaptive Schemas and Mindful Attention-Awareness

Several authors have recently suggested the integration of mindfulness and mindfulness-based interventions into the schema therapy framework due to practical and theoretical compatibilities between these approaches. Preliminary research has demonstrated negative correlations between mindful attention-awareness and early maladaptive schemas, a key construct in schema therapy. However, little is known about the associations between early maladaptive schemas and mindfulness, particularly which specific early maladaptive schemas are related to mindful attention-awareness. This study examined the relationship between early maladaptive schemas, assessed with the Young Schema Questionnaire Short Form—Extended (YSQ-S2-Extended), and mindful attention-awareness, assessed with the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), in a community sample of Finnish adults (N = 215). Findings demonstrated that 17 out of 18 early maladaptive schemas were negatively correlated with mindful attention-awareness. In addition, three early maladaptive schemas, characterized by lack of self-control and avoidance of thoughts and emotions, were significantly related to low mindful attention-awareness in the linear regression. This study provides further empirical support for proposed associations between the presence of maladaptive cognitive schemas and a low ability to focus attention on experiences in the present in a mindful way. Future research is needed to study whether mindfulness-based interventions are beneficial in observing or reducing early maladaptive schemas and maladaptive coping strategies associated with them.

Predicting the Risk of Opioid Use Disorder Based on Early Maladaptive Schemas.

Substance use is a globally devastating social problem. Early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) are inefficient mechanisms leading directly or indirectly to psychological distress. The current study aimed to assess the role of EMSs in predicting opioid use disorder. The cross-sectional study was conducted in 2013 in Bojnurd at northeast of Iran on 60 male opioid users who received Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) and 60 control males. The opioid users were selected randomly from MMT clinics and control subjects were selected and matched with opioid users using demographic variables. The subjects completed the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF). Except for SS (self-sacrifice), EG (entitlement/grandiosity), US (unrelenting standards), and FA (Failure to Achieve), the mean of other maladaptive schemas in the opioid user group were significantly higher than that of the control group, adjusted for multiple comparisons. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) indicated significant differences in maladaptive schemas between the two groups. Logistic regression identified that Emotional Deprivation, Mistrust/Abuse, and Unrelenting Standards can predict opioid use. As a result, the risk of opioid-related disorders in people with higher YSQ-SF scores in these schemas is higher. The findings conclude that the existence of underlying EMS may constitute a vulnerability factor for developing opioid use disorders later on in life. Provided the vast amount of scientific literature in evidence-based treatments focusing on EMSs, maladaptive schemas and related core beliefs can be detected and treated in adolescence to prevent the enactment of the schema and psychological distress likely to induce opioid use.

Young Schema Questionnaire – Short Form Version 3 (YSQ-S3): Preliminary validation in older adults

ABSTRACTObjectives: The aim of the current study was to establish the reliability and validity of one of the most used schema questionnaires, Young Schema Questionnaire Short Form Version 3 (YSQ-S3) in older adults.Method: 104 participants aged 60–84 years were recruited. They were administered a battery of questionnaires, including the YSQ-S3, Young-Atkinson Mode Inventory (YAMI), Germans (Personality) Screener, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), The Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI) and the Basic Psychological Needs Scale (BPNS). The YSQ-S3 was completed a second time by 83 participants a median of 12 days later.Results: Satisfactory internal consistency reliability was found for 13 of the 18 early maladaptive schemas (EMS) of the YSQ-S3. Test-retest reliability was satisfactory for 17 of 18 EMS. Convergent validity was evident from significant correlations between the EMS of the YSQ-S3 and the vulnerable child and angry child schema modes from the YAMI. Congruent validity was evident from correlations of the majority of the EMS with the GDS, the GAI, German's (Personality) Screener and the BPNS measure.Conclusions: By and large the YSQ-S3 demonstrates internal and test re-test reliability in as well as congruent and convergent validity, in older adults. This suggests the YSQ-S3 may be of use in work establishing the utility of schema therapy in this population, and that schema therapy with older people warrants further exploration. Notwithstanding this some re-development of some EMS items appears to be required for the YSQ-S3 to be more relevant to older people.

Early maladaptive schemas in patients with bipolar and unipolar disorder

Objective: The aim of our study is to determine the difference between the bipolar disorder, unipolar disorder and control groups in terms of maladaptive schemes and childhood trauma.Methods: Two groups of patients under monitoring with a diagnosis of bipolar or unipolar disorder and one group of healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Each group consisted of 60 subjects. The Young Mania Rating Scale and Beck Depression Inventory were used to confirm that patients were in remission. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form 3 were used to identify childhood traumas and early maladaptive schemas.Results: In bipolar disorder, a positive, low power correlation was observed between the vulnerability to threats schema and emotional, physical and sexual abuse. In the unipolar disorder group, there was a positive, low power correlation between the emotional inhibition, failure, approval seeking, dependence, abandonment and defectiveness schemas and social isolation, and a positive, moderate correlation between social isolation and emotional abuse.Conclusions: Individuals with bipolar disorder suffered greater childhood trauma compared to subjects with unipolar disorder and healthy individuals. Greater maladaptive schema activation were present in individuals with bipolar disorder compared to those with unipolar disorder and healthy individuals.

Early maladaptive schemas and suicidal risk in an Iranian sample of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

There are few studies on suicidal risk and its related factors in patients diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This study investigated the associations of early maladaptive schemas, OC symptom dimensions, OCD severity, depression and anxiety with suicidality (i.e., suicidal ideation and suicide attempts) in OCD patients. Sixty OCD outpatients completed the Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI), the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF), the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), the Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DOCS) and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). 51.7% of patients had lifetime suicide attempts and 75% had suicidal ideation. OCD patients with lifetime suicide attempts exhibited significantly higher scores on early maladaptive schemas than those without such attempts. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the mistrust/abuse schema and the OC symptom dimension of unacceptable thoughts explained lifetime suicide attempts. The mistrust/abuse schema, unacceptable thoughts and depression significantly predicted suicidal ideation. These findings indicated that the mistrust/abuse schema may contribute to high suicidality in OCD patients. Also, patients suffering from unacceptable thoughts need to be assessed more carefully for warning signs of suicide.

Early maladaptive schemas in individuals with and without B cluster personality disorders

The purpose of this research was to examine the role of early maladaptive schemas in patients with and without B cluster personality disorders, based on gender, age and educational status. The sample consisted of 150 Iranian outpatients with borderline, histrionic, narcissistic, and antisocial personality disorders and controls, who were selected through the purposive sampling method. A demographic questionnaire and the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF) were used in this study. The results demonstrated that patients with B cluster personality disorders had significantly higher levels of early maladaptive schemas than the control group. A significant effect was found with regards to gender in relation to early maladaptive schemas. The findings did not support the influence of age or educational level in early maladaptive schemas.

Conduct Disorder in Student: The Predicting Role of Emotion Regulation, Callous-Unemotional Traits and Schema

Abstract Background: The fact that emotional dysregulation and early maladaptive schemas are considered as the defining core of conduct disorder has been validated throughnumerousstudies. Astrong association between the diagnosis of conduct disorder and callousunemotional traits has also been found by numerous studies. Objectives: This study was carried out in order to inspect the relationship between conduct disorder and emotion regulation, callous- unemotional traits, and schema in male high-school students in Dezfoul, SW Iran. Methods: In the present descriptive correlational study, 320 male high school students were chosen in Dezfoul, using the multistage random sampling. Data collection was carried out using some instruments including the child behavior checklist (CBCL), difficulties in emotion-regulation scale (DERS) inventory of callous- unemotional traits (ICUT) young schema questionnaire-short form. The collected data were analyzed using multivariate regression analysis and the pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The results indicated a meaningfully positive correlation between emotion regulation, callous- unemotional traits and schema with conduct disorder. In addition, the results of multivariate regression analysis showed thatamongthe above-mentioned variables studied, callous- unemotional trait was found to be the most effective predicting variable in conduct disorder (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The findings of this study are in full agreement with those of previous ones, and basically show a significant association between callous- unemotional traits, emotion regulation and schema with conduct disorder.

The reliability and factor structure of Thai Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form 3.

Previous research which documented the psychometric properties of Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ) was conducted in Western countries. The current research examined the reliability and factor structure of the Thai version of the Young Schema-Short From-3 (YSQ-S3). The participants were 622 undergraduates (62% females) recruited from three universities in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Results suggested acceptable internal consistency of 18 early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) (Cronbach's α range from 0.619 to 0.846). Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the factor structures of 18 EMSs. The results failed to support Young's theoretical schema domain. The authors indicated a four-factor solution as the best alternative second-order model for this population. In conclusion, the Thai version of YSQ-S3 is psychometrically sound questionnaire that can be utilized for assessing EMS, both for research and practice purposes. The current study further provides evidence supporting the existence of 18 EMSs in the non-Western context.

Risk Factors for Women’s Intimate Partner Violence Victimization: An Examination from the Perspective of the Schema Therapy Model

This study attempted to examine risk factors for intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization against women in terms of the schema therapy model (STM). Seventy-nine shelter-residing female IPV victims and 78 married female IPV non-victims participated in the study. The Young Schema Questionnaire Short Form, the Young Parenting Inventory, the Young Compensation Inventory, and the Young Avoidance Inventory were used. The results revealed that being young and having low income were risk factors for IPV victimization. Paternal parenting style was also found to be a further risk factor in addition to demographic variables. Further, the endorsement of disconnection and the unrelenting standards schema domains presented further information predicting IPV victimization above and beyond demographic variables and parenting styles. Maladaptive coping styles did not reveal themselves as maintenance factors for IPV victimization when the information gathered from demographic variables, parenting styles, and schema domains is taken out. The results are discussed in terms of the STM.

Relationship between Early Maladaptive Schema and Internet Addiction:A Cross-Sectional Study

Over the past decade the concept of Internet Addiction has grown in terms of its acceptance as a legitimate clinical disorder often requiring treatment. Many hospitals and clinics have emerged with outpatient treatment services for Internet Addiction. Most recently, the findings of this research area has led American Psychiatric Association to include the diagnosis of Internet Addiction in the Appendix in the DSM-V. The purpose of the present research was to investigate the relationship between Early Maladaptive Schema and Internet Addiction among students. This research is a cross-sectional survey. Statistical population of the study included undergraduate and postgraduate students of Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran. 195 students by using simple sampling method were selected. The Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF) and Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale (GPIUS) were applied as measuring Instruments. To analyze the data Pearson Correlation and regression method were used. Results indicated that there was a significant relationship between 5 domains of Early Maladaptive Schema and Internet Addiction in students. Also, there was a significant relationship between each 15 dimensions of Early Maladaptive Schema with Internet Addiction. According to research findings, the formatting schema during early years can be strong factor in the tendency to use internet. It is essential that more detailed studies should be carried out in this area, particularly about internet addiction.

The relationship between early maladaptive schemas and mental skills with goal orientation of footballers

This study aims to investigate the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and mental skills by interpreting the footballer's competitive anxiety and goal orientation. The research methodology is descriptive using correlational models. According to the predictor variables of early maladaptive schemas and mental skills, goal orientation and competitive anxiety are predicted in a sample of footballers in the Premier League and Azadegan League. The research population consisted of all footballers in the Premier League and Azadegan League. Considering the formula, the sample size was chosen 200 using convenience sampling method from Premier and Azadegan Leagues’ football teams. The measurement tools include Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF; Young, 1998), The Ottawa Mental Skills Assessment Tool 3 (OMSAT-3), Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (TEOSQ) and Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2). In the statistical analysis of the data, descriptive and inferential indicators and methods were used. The research hypotheses were tested by standardized multiple regression analysis and finally, the conclusion based on the hypotheses was that there was a relationship between some components of early maladaptive schemas and mental skills with goal orientation of footballers.

Comparison of Early Maladaptive Schemas in Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder with Healthy Individuals

Objective: Early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) fundamental beliefs that underpin stable and trait-like psychological disorders are chronic and relapsing. In our research, active schemas in Obssessive-Compulsive patients with Obssessive Compulsive Pesrsonality patients have been compared with healthy individuals.The purpose of this study was to compare early maladaptive schemas Young (2003, 1990) in OCD patients with OCPD patients and healthy subjects. Method: For this study, 38 patients with Obssessive Compulsive disorder and 44 patients with Obssessive Compulsive Personality disorder during the year who referred to medical centers and clinics in Kermanshah city were selected through structured interviews and the Yele Braown Obssessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), and 63 patients from diagnosis for mild problems who referred to the clinic were considered as controls. 15 early maladaptive schemas through Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF) were measured. Results: Analysis of variance showed that maladaptive schemas are different in the three groups. All maladaptive schemas except Self-sacrifice, and insufficient self-control in both group of patients were significantly higher than in healthy individuals. The results indicate that differences between individuals with obssessive-compulsive disorder and healthy control in schemas of emotional deprivation, mistrust, social isolation, Failure to achieve, Dependence, Vulnerability to harm, Subjugation, Emotional inhibition, and Unrelenting standards were statistically significant. The obssessive compulsive personality disorder group significantly obtained higher scores than the obssessive compulsive disorder group in 13 schemes. Also the obssessive compulsive personality disorder group obtained higher scores compared to the healthy control group in the total score of schemas. Conclusion: The findings of the present study suggest that, in the OCD and OCPD patients, all maladaptive schemas except Self-sacrifice, and insufficient self-control indicated higher scores. The effect size in this study shows that in both disorders schemas and schemas of vulnerability to harm and illness to have the greatest impact. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n4s2p171

Borderline Personality Features in Students: the Predicting Role of Schema, Emotion Regulation, Dissociative Experience and Suicidal Ideation.

Background:Numerous studies have demonstrated that early maladaptive schemas, emotional dysregulation are supposed to be the defining core of borderline personality disorder. Many studies have also found a strong association between the diagnosis of borderline personality and the occurrence of suicide ideation and dissociative symptoms.Objectives:The present study was designed to investigate the relationship between borderline personality features and schema, emotion regulation, dissociative experiences and suicidal ideation among high school students in Shiraz City, Iran.Patients and Methods:In this descriptive correlational study, 300 students (150 boys and 150 girls) were selected from the high schools in Shiraz, Iran, using the multi-stage random sampling. Data were collected using some instruments including borderline personality feature scale for children, young schema questionnaire-short form, difficulties in emotion-regulation scale (DERS), dissociative experience scale and beck suicide ideation scale. Data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient and multivariate regression analysis.Results:The results showed a significant positive correlation between schema, emotion regulation, dissociative experiences and suicide ideation with borderline personality features. Moreover, the results of multivariate regression analysis suggested that among the studied variables, schema was the most effective predicting variable of borderline features (P < 0.001).Conclusions:The findings of this study are in accordance with findings from previous studies, and generally show a meaningful association between schema, emotion regulation, dissociative experiences, and suicide ideation with borderline personality features.

Rape-related cognitive distortions: Preliminary findings on the role of early maladaptive schemas

Despite the important focus on the notion of cognitive distortions in the sexual offending area, the relevance of underlying cognitive schemas in sexual offenders has also been suggested. The aim of the present study was to investigate a potential relationship between Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMSs) and cognitive distortions in rapists. A total of 33 men convicted for rape completed the Bumby Rape Scale (BRS), the Young Schema Questionnaire — Short form-3 (YSQ-S3), the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), and the Socially Desirable Response Set Measure (SDRS-5). Results showed a significant relationship between the impaired limits schematic domain and the Justifying Rape dimension of the BRS. Specifically, after controlling for psychological distress levels and social desirability tendency, the entitlement/grandiosity schema from the impaired limits domain was a significant predictor of cognitive distortions related to Justifying Rape themes. Overall, despite preliminary, there is some evidence that the Young's Schema-Focused model namely the impaired limits dimension may contribute for the conceptualization of cognitive distortions in rapists and further investigation is recommended.

Are Iranian obese women candidate for bariatric surgery different cognitively, emotionally and behaviorally from their normal weight counterparts?

The purpose of the present study was to examine the cognitive, emotional and behavioral differences between obese and normal weight women. The participants consisted of 60 obese women (BMI≥35, Mean age 35.83) who were candidates for bariatric surgery and 60 normal weight women (BMI≤24.90, Mean age 33.38) who were selected through convenient sampling method. The two groups were matched with respect to age and education. Measures included the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and the Binge Eating Scale. Independent sample t test and Mann-Whitney U tests were conducted to compare the two groups' scores on early maladaptive schemas, DER and binge eating. Results indicated that obese women candidate for bariatric surgery scored significantly higher on emotional deprivation, mistrust, failure, dependency, enmeshment, self-sacrifice, especially abandonment, social isolation, vulnerability, self-control and subjugation schemas, but not on shame, entitlement, emotional inhibition and unrelenting standards. Obese women also displayed higher scores on three subscales of DERS, i.e., goal, impulse and strategies. BE scores were significantly higher in obese women than normal weight ones. The findings showed that obese women candidates for bariatric surgery suffered from more cognitive, emotional and behavioral vulnerability compared to women with normal weight. Addressing these vulnerabilities among obese women could improve outcomes of weight loss surgeries and cognitive behavioral interventions so that weight regain is minimized and better outcomes are achieved.