The role of Early Maladaptive Schemas in Predicting Emotional Intelligence in Secondary School Girl Students

Emotional intelligence is one of the effective factors in the psychological health in adolescents, which is influenced by early experiences. This study aimed to investigate the role of early maladaptive schemas in predicting emotional intelligence in female secondary school students. In this descriptive study, 384 female high school students selected through cluster sampling method from schools in Rasht in the 2017-18 academic years. Data were collected using Early Maladaptive Schema Questionnaire (Young, Klosko & Weishaar, 2003) and Emotional Intelligence scale (Mayer’s & Salovey, 1993). Data analysis was performed using PSSS-22 software, Pearson correlation and stepwise regression tests. The results showed that emotional intelligence with emotional deprivation (-0.825), abandonment (-0.383), failure (-0.208), defect and shame (-0.290), dependence (-0.535) The vulnerability (-0.454), unreliability (-0.246), involvement (-0.814), sacrifice (-0.824), obedience (-0.755), emotional inhibition (-0.804) (-0.808), independence (-0.432) and inadequate self-discipline (-0.854), there was a significant negative correlation (P<0.01). But there was no significant correlation between emotional intelligence and social isolation (0.033). The results of multiple linear regression showed that the components of the early maladaptive schema were able to predict 0.83 of the variance of emotional intelligence in the students (F(15,368) =134.449, p<0.001). The results of this study indicate that early maladaptive schemas play a significant role in adolescent emotional intelligence.