Investigating the maladaptive schemas of working adolescent girls exposed to social trauma compared to normal adolescent girls

This study aimed to investigate the status of early maladaptive schemas in adolescent girls exposed to social harm (adolescent working girls) and normal adolescent girls.

This study employed a comparative causal research method. Eighty adolescent girls (40 working adolescents and 40 normal adolescents), aged between 12 and 15 years, were selected using the available sampling method and completed a questionnaire on adolescent primary schemas.

The results of the research showed that between the two groups, the overall score of early maladaptive schemas and subscales of sacrifice, vulnerability, stubborn criteria, mistrust/abuse, underdeveloped self, dominance, inadequate self-control, loneliness, defect, and failure were higher. A significant difference was observed at this level (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in initial incompatible entitlement/secretary schemes.

Based on the obtained results, teenage working girls suffer from high levels of early maladaptive schemas. This difference between the initial maladaptive schemas of teenage working girls and normal adolescent girls indicates that primary maladaptive schemas can be one of the psychological components that influence the personality, behavioral, and emotional problems of adolescent working girls and the existence of conditions and awareness. Suitable for meeting the needs of these teenagers can prevent many of their psychological problems in the future, and by using the results of this research, it was determined that the improvement of schemas can specifically reduce the social consequences of this group.