A Comparison between Maladaptive Schemas of Delinquent and Normal Adolescents and the Attachment Styles of their Parents

The aim of the current study is to compare early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) and attachment styles in delinquent and normal adolescents and then to compare them with the attachment styles of their parents. The research method is causal-comparative (ex post facto) and the participants were 100 delinquent adolescents (75 boys, 25 girls), 100 normal adolescents (65 boys, 35 girls) and their parents. The sampling methods were availability sampling and cluster random sampling for delinquent adolescents and normal adolescents respectively. The data collection instruments were the short form of Yung’s Early Maladaptive Schema Inventory and Collin and Reed’s Attachment Style Scales. The results of the hypothesis analysis by means of the two-way ANOVA showed that there is a significant difference (p<0/001) between the EMSs and attachment styles of the parents of delinquent adolescents and those of normal adolescents. The results of the present study are in agreement with those of the previous research on the relationship between EMS and non-secure attachment style in parents and they suggest that the parents of delinquent adolescents with maladaptive schemas have higher non-secure attachment styles. These results can be used to assist families and prevent high-risks behaviors among adolescents.