The Mediating Role of Early Maladaptive Schemas in the Relationship Between Attachment styles with Corona Anxiety

This study aimed to investigate the mediatory role of the early maladaptive schemas in relationship attachment styles and corona anxiety.

The study design was descriptive-correlational through structural equation modeling. The statistical population included all Undergraduate students Poldokhtar Higher Education Center in the academic year 2020-2021, who were selected to a statistical sample group with a sufficient number to test the model according to Klein (2015) for each variable 20 Samples were considered. The sampling method was non-probability and an online questionnaire. The instruments used in the study included the Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS), Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF), and Adult Attachment Scale (AAS). SPSS-22 and AMOS-24 software were used for statistical analysis.

In regards to the fitness indices, the results of the structural equation modeling indicate that the presented model has an appropriate fitness (RMSEA = 0.08, GFI = 0.90, AGFI = 0.91). Avoidant attachment style (β = 0.23) and maladaptive schemas (β = 0.78) have a direct and significant effect on corona anxiety.  Also indirect pathway results showed that secure attachment style mediated by maladaptive schemas could reduce corona anxiety; but avoidant and ambivalent attachment styles mediated by maladaptive schemas can add to students' corona anxiety.

The study showed that with increasing avoidant attachment style, corona anxiety decreased, and maladaptive schemas had a mediating role in the relationship between attachment styles with corona anxiety and increased this effect.