The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation in the RelationshipBetween Maladaptive Schemas and Anxiety Symptoms

This study has been conducted to determine the mediating role of emotion regulation in the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and anxiety symptoms. To do this through a descriptive research, 300 participants (158 women, 142 men) were selected by convenience sampling procedures from Tehran University students. The participants were requested to fill out Young’s Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (Young, 1998), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995), and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (Gratz & Roemer, 2004). There was a significant positive correlation between early maladaptive schemas, emotion regulation difficulty, and anxiety symptoms. The results of path analysis confirmed the mediating role of emotion regulation difficulty in the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and anxiety symptoms. According to the findings, it can be concluded that the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and anxiety symptoms is not a simple linear one. Early maladaptive schemas influence anxiety symptoms through emotion regulation difficulty. Thus, to prevent the development of anxiety symptoms, in addition to reducing the negative features of early maladaptive schemas, it is necessary to provide a context for the reconstruction of emotion regulation processes to enhance the level of mental health.