Transactions on Data Analysis in Social Science

Transactions on Data Analysis in Social Science

The Role of Early Maladaptive Schemas in Predicting Perfectionism and Social Anxiety in Adults: Emphasizing the Mediating Role of Shame and Emotional Deprivation

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia
10.22034/tdas.2025.245586
Abstract
Introduction: Early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) are pervasive cognitive–emotional patterns that develop in childhood and increase vulnerability to psychopathology. This study examined the associations of three EMSs (abandonment/instability, emotional deprivation and defectiveness/shame) with perfectionism and social anxiety, and the mediating roles of internalized shame and emotional deprivation. Method: In this cross-sectional study, 300 adults aged 20–45 years attending psychological counseling centers in Tehran in 2025–2026 were recruited by convenience sampling. Participants completed the Young Schema Questionnaire–Short Form 3 (YSQ-S3), the Hewitt and Flett Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale and the Internalized Shame Scale. Data were analyzed with structural equation modeling using SPSS 26 and AMOS. Results: The model showed an acceptable fit (χ²/df = 2.10, RMSEA = 0.059, CFI = 0.94, TLI = 0.91, SRMR = 0.045). Abandonment/instability was positively associated with social anxiety (β = 0.34, p < 0.001), defectiveness/shame with perfectionism (β = 0.41, p < 0.001), and emotional deprivation with both perfectionism (β = 0.28, p < 0.01) and social anxiety (β = 0.25, p < 0.01). Bootstrapping with 5,000 resamples showed a significant indirect effect of defectiveness/shame on perfectionism through internalized shame (β = 0.17, 95% CI [0.09, 0.26]) and of abandonment/instability on social anxiety through emotional deprivation (β = 0.14, 95% CI [0.07, 0.21]). Conclusion: Internalized shame and emotional deprivation appear to be important mechanisms linking early maladaptive schemas to perfectionism and social anxiety, which may inform schema-based case formulation and interventions. Given the cross-sectional design, the paths should not be interpreted as causal.
Keywords

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Volume 7, Issue 2
Spring 2025
Pages 123-139

  • Receive Date 02 January 2025
  • Revise Date 10 March 2025
  • Accept Date 17 May 2025