The mediating role of difficulty in emotion regulation on the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and alexithymia

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 university of Tehran

2 university

Abstract

Abstract
Alexithymia causes many problems in both personal and social life. What is the role early maladaptive schemas in development and maintaining of these problems? What is the role of difficulty in emotion regulation on the possible relationship between early maladaptive schemas and marital problems? To achieve answers of such questions, the present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of difficulty in emotion regulation on the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and alexithymia. Two hundred and eighty seven married students (158 females, 129 males) who were living in Urmia participated in this study as volunteers. Participants completed the Farsi version of Toronto Alexithymia Scale (FTAS-20), Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF), and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Analysis of data involved both descriptive and inferential statistics including frequency, means, standard deviation, Pearson's correlation coefficients and path analysis. The results showed a significant positive correlation between early maladaptive schemas, alexithymia, and difficulty in emotion regulation. The results of path analysis showed that the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and alexithymia was mediated by difficulty in emotion regulation. According to the results of the present study, it can be concluded that the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and alexithymia is not a linear and one dimensional correlation. Difficulty in emotion regulation can play a meditational role between the two.
Keywords: schema, emotion regulation, alexithymia

Keywords


-                      Aahi, g., mohammadifar, m., & Besarat, M., (2007). Reliability and Validity of Young's Schema Questionnaire-short form, 37 (3): 5-25. (Fa)
-                      Bagby, R. M., Parker, J. D. A., & Taylor, G. J. (1994). The twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale: I Item selection and cross-validation of the factor structure. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 38, 23-32.
-                      Besharat, M. (2008). Relations between Alexithymia, Anxiety, Depression, Psychological Distress, and Psychological Well-being. Journal of Modern Psychological Researches, 3(10), 17-40. (Fa)
-                      Besharat, M. (2013). Toronto Alexithymia Scale: Questionnaire, Instruction and Scoring (Persian Version). , 10(37), 90-92. (Fa)
-                      Besharat, M. A. (2007). Reliability and factorial validity of Farsi version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale with a sample of Iranian students. Psychological Reports, 101, 209-220.
-                      Besharat, M. A., & Shahidi, V. (2014). Mediating Role of Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies on the Relationship between Attachment Styles and Alexithymia. Europe′s Journal of Psychology, 10, 352- 362.
-                      Besharat, M., & Bazzazian, S., (2014). Psychometri properties of the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire in a sample of Iranian population, 24 (84): 61-70. (Fa)
-                      Besharat, M., (2006). Reliability and Validity of the Mental Health Inventory (MHI). Semi-Annualy Daneshvar Raftar, 1 (16):11-16 (Fa)
-                      Besharat, M., (2009). "Alexithymia and interpersonal problems, Studies in Education and Psychology, 1, 129-145. (Fa)
-                      Besharat, M., Keshavarz, S., & Lavasani, M. (2015). Mediating Role of Self-Compassion and Self-Control in the Relationship between Early Maladaptive Schemas and Quality of Life. , 11(44), 355-341. (Fa)
-                      Besharat, M., Mohammadi Hosseini Nezhad, E., & Gholamali Lavasani, M., (2014) The mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation strategies on the relationship between alexithymia, anger and anger rumination with ego defense styles, Contemprory Psychology, 9 (2): 29-48. (Fa)
-                      Besharat, M., Ofoghi, Z., Aghaei Sabet, S., Habibnezhad, M., Pournaghdali, A., & Geranmayepour, S., (2014). Moderating effect of cognitive emotion regulation strategies on the relationship between alexithymia and interpersonal problem, Advances in Cognitive Science, 15 (4), 43-52. (Fa)
-                      Besharat, M., Zaheditajrishi, K., & Noorbala, A., (2014). (Alexithymia and emotion regulation strategies in patients with somatization, anxiety disorders, and normal individuals: A comparative study, Contemprary Psychology, 8 (2), 3-16. (Fa)
-                      Connelly, M., & Denney, D. R. (2007). Regulation of emotion during experimental stress in alexithymia. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 62, 649-656.
-                      Craparo, G., Ardino, V., Gori, A., & Caretti, V.  (2014). the relationship between Early Trauma, Dissociation, and Alexithymia in Alcohol Addiction. Korean Neuropsychiatric Association, DOI: 10.4306/pi.2014.11.3.330.
-                      Dolcos, F., Lordan, A. D., & Dolcos, S. (2011). Neural correlation of emotion-cognition interactions: A review of evidence from brain imaging investigations. Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 23, 669-694.
-                      Eichhorn, S., Brähler, E., Franz, M., Friedrich, M., & Glaesmer, H. (2014). Traumatic experiences, alexithymia, and posttraumatic symptomatology: a cross-sectional population-based study in Germany. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 5. Doi:  10.3402/ejpt.v5.23870.
-                      Essazadeghan, A., Hassani, M., Ahmadian, L., & Amani, J., (2013). Comparison of Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies and General Health Characteristics of Individuals with and without Alexithymia, Psychological Research, 16 (1): 65-83. (Fa)
-                      Fatehi, A., Fooladchang, M., Abedi, F. (2017). The mediating role of behavioral self – regulation in relation of family function dimensions and assertiveness. Journal of Psychological Models and Methods, 8(28), 49-70. (Fa)
-                      Fekri, a., Issazadegan, A., & Michaeeli Manee, F., (2015).  Comparison of cognitive emotion regulation strategies and alexithymia in individuals with and without essential hypertension, Contemporary Psychology, 2015, 10(1), 85-94. (Fa)
-                      Folkman, S., & Moskowitz, J. T. (2004). Coping: Pitfalls and promise. Annual Review of Psychology, 55, 745-774.
-                      Frawley, W., & Smith, R. N. (2001). A processing theory of alexithymia. Cognitive Systems Research, 2, 189-206.
-                      Frewen, P. A., Dozois, D. J. A., Neufeld, R. W. J., & Lanius, R. A. (2008). Meta-analysis of alexithymia in posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Trauma and Stress, 21, 243-246.
-                      Garnefski, N., & Kraaij, V. (2006). Cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire- development of a short 18-item version (CERQ-short). Personality and Individual Differences, 41, 1045-1053.
-                      Garnefski, N., Kraaij, V., & Spinhoven (2001). Negative life events, cognitive emotion regulation and emotional problems. Personality and Individual Differences, 30, 1311-1327.
-                      Gratz, K. L., & Roemer, L. (2004). Multidimensional assessment of emotion regulation and dysregulation: Development, factor structure, and initial validation of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 26, 41-54.
-                      Gratz, K. L., & Tull, M. T. (2010). Emotion regulation as a mechanism of change in acceptance- and mindfulness-based treatments. In R. Baer (Ed.), Assessing mindfulness and acceptance processes in clients: Illuminating the theory and process of change (pp. 107-133). Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.
-                      Gratz, K. L., Rosenthal, M. Z., Tull, M. T., Lejuez, C. W., & Gunderson, J. G. (2006). An experimental investigation of emotion dysregulation in borderline personality disorder. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 115, 850-855.
-                      Gross, J., J. & Levenson, R. (1997). Hiding feelings: the acute effects of inhibiting negative and positive emotion. Jourbal of Abnormal Psychology, 106, 95-103.
-                      Grynberg, D., Chang, B., Corneille, O., Maurage, P., Vermeulen, N., Berthoz, S., & Luminet, O. (2012). Alexithymia and the processing of emotional facial expressions (EFEs): systematic review, unanswered questions and further perspectives. PLoS One, 7, e42429.
-                      Hooman, H.A., (2009). Structural Equation Modeling With LISREL Application, Tehran: SAMT. (Fa)
-                      Jazaieri, H., Urry, H. L., & Gross, J. J. (2013). Affective disturbance and psychopathology: An emotion regulation perspective. Journal of Experimental Psychopathology, 4, 584-599.
-                      Karami, J., Zakie, A., & Mohebi, Z., (2013). Relationship between Alexithymia and Beliefs about Emotion with Renal Patient’s, Mental Health, 1 (4): 19-29. (Fa)
-                      Karukivi, M., Joukamaa, M., Hautala, L., Kaleva, O., Haapasalo-Pesu, K. M., Liuksila, P. R., & Saarijärvi, S. (2012). Deficit in speech development at the age of 5 years predicts alexithymia in late-adolescent males. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 53, 54-62.
-                      Kench, S., & Irwin, H. J. (2000). Alexithymia and childhood family environment. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 56, 737-745.
-                      Lawson, R., Emanuelli, F., Sines, J. & Waller, G. (2008). Emotional awareness and core beliefs among women with eating disorders. European Eating Disorders Review, 16, 155-159.
-                      Leahy, R. L., Beck, J. & Beck, A. T. (2005). Cognitive Therapy for the personality Disorderz. Hoboken, NJ, US: John Wiley & Sons Inc.
-                      Lockwood, P. L., Seara-Cardoso, A., & Viding, E. (2014). Emotion Regulation Moderates the Association between Empathy and Prosocial Behavior. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone,0096555.
-                      Mason, O., Tyson, M., Jones, C., & Potts, S. (2005). Alexithymia: its prevalence and correlates in a British undergraduate sample. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 78, 113-125.
-                      Mohammadi, F., Hossaini, M. (2016). The Effectiveness of Emotional Intelligence Group Training on Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies in Students as the Victims of Parents' Emotional Abuse. Journal of Psychological Models and Methods, 6(22), 101-116. (Fa)
-                      Moormann, P. P., Bermond, B., Vorst, H. C. M., Bloemendaal, A. F. T., Teijn, S. M., & Rood. L. (2008). New avenues in alexithymia research: The creation of alexithymia types. In A., Vingerhoets, I., Nyklicek, J. Denollet (eds.), Emotion regulation: Conceptual and clinical isshues (pp. 27-42). New York: Springer.
-                      Moyal, N., Henik, A., & Anholt, G. E. (2014). Cognitive strategies to regulate emotions- current evidence and future directions. Frontiers in Psychology. DOI: 10,3389/fpsyg.2013.01019.
-                      Palmer, B. R., Gignac, G., Manocha, R., & Syough, C. (2004). A psychometric evaluation of the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test Version 2.0. Intelligence, 33, 285-305.
-                      Pandey, P., Saxena, P., & Dubey, A. (2011). Emotion regulation difficulties in alexithymia and mental health. Europe’s Journal of Psychology, 7, 604-623.
-                      Parker, J. D. A., Taylor, G. J., & Bagby, R. M. (2001). The relationship between emotional intelligence and alexithymia. Personality and Individual Differences, 30, 107-115.
-                      Parker, J. D. A., Taylor, G. J., & Bagby, R. M. (2003). The 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale: III reliability and factorial validity in a community population. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 55, 269-275.
-                      Penley, J. A., Tomaka, J. (2002). Associations among the big five, emotional responses, and coping with acute stress. Personality and Individual Differences, 32, 215-228.
-                      Phillips, K., Wright, B. J. & Kent, S. (2013). Psychosocial predictors of irritable bowel syndrome diagnosis and symptom severity. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 75, 467-474.
-                      Rajabi, S., Alimoradi, K., Moradi, N. (2017). The relationship between structurals of spiritual well-being and marital satisfaction with the mediating role of emotional intelligence and self-differentiation. Journal of Psychological Models and Methods, 8(28), 19-48. (Fa)
-                      Ridder, D., & Schreurs, K. (2001). Developing interventions for chronically ill patients: Is coping a helpful concept? Clinical Psychology Review, 21, 205-240.
-                      Saariaho, A. S., Saariaho, T. H., Mattila, A. K., Karukivi, M., & Joukamaa, M. I. (2015). Alexithymia and Early Maladaptive Schemas in chronic pain patients. Personality and Social Psychology, 56, 428-437.
-                      Samani, S., Sohrabi Shegefti, N., Mansori, S. (2011). Mediating Role of Cognitive Emotion Regulation for Parenting Style and Emotional Disturbances. Journal of Psychological Models and Methods, 1(3), 119-133. (Fa)
-                      Schipper, M., & Petermann, F. (2013). Relating empathy and emotion regulation: Do deficits in empathy trigger emotion dysregulation? Social Neuroscience, 8, 101-107.
-                      Schmidt, N. B., Joiner Jr, T. E., Young, J. E., & Telch, M. J. (1995). The schema questionnaire: Investigation of psychometric properties and the hierarchical structure of a measure of maladaptive schemas. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 19, 295-321.
-                      Shahgholian M, Moradi A, Kafee M. Relationship of Alexithymia with Emotional Expression Styles and General Health among University Students. IJPCP. 2007; 13 (3):238-248. (Fa)
-                      Shishido, H., Gaher, R. M., & Simon, J. S. (2013). I don’t know how I feel, therefore I act: Alexithymia, urgency, and alcohol problems. Addictive Behaviors, 38, 2014-2017.
-                      Sifneos, P. E. (1973). The prevalence of dalexithymicT characteristics in psychosomatic patients. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 22, 255-62.
-                      Sifneos, P. E. (2000). Alexithymia, clinical issues, politics and crime, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 69, 113-116.
-                      Simard, V., Moss, E., & Pascuzzo, K. (2011). Early maladaptive schemas and child adult attachment: A 15-years longitudinal study. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Resarch and Practice, 84, 349-360.
-                      Soyguy, G., & Çakir, Z. (2009). The Mediating role of the interpersonal schemas between parenting styles and psychological symptoms: A schema focused view. Journal of Turk Psikiyatri Dergisi, 20, 144-152.
-                      Stasiewicz, P. R., Bradizza, C. M., Gudleski, G. D., Scott, F. C., Schlauch, C. R., Bailey, S. T., Bole, C. W., & Gulliver, S. B. (2012). The relationship of alexithymia to emotional dysregulation within an alcohol dependent treatment sample. Addictive Behaviors, 37, 469-476.
-                      Swart, M., Kortekaas, R., & Aleman, A. (2009). Dealing with feelings: Characterization of trait alexithymia on emotion regulation strategies and cognitive-emotional processing. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone,0005751.
-                      Taylor, G. J., & Bagby, M. (2000). An overview of the alexithymia construct. In R., bar-On, & J. D. A., Parker (eds). The handbook of emotional intelligence (pp. 263-276). San Francisco: Jossey Bass.
-                      Thimm, J. C. (2010). Mediation of early maladaptive schemas between perceptions of parental rearing style and personality disorder symptoms. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 41, 52-59.
-                      Thimm, J. C. (2013). Early maladaptive schemas and interpersonal problems: A circumflex analysis of YSQ-SF. International Journal of Psychology & Psychological Therapy, 13, 113-124.
-                      Thompson, R. A. (1994). Motion Regulation: A Theme in search of definition. In N. A. Fox (ed). The development of emotion regulation: Biological and behavioral considerations. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 9, 25-52.
-                      Vanheule, S., Desmet, M., Meganck, R., & Bogaerts, S. (2007). Alexithymia and interpersonal problems. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 63, 109-117.
-                      Veit, C. T., & Ware, J. E. (1983). The structure of psychological distress and well-being in general population. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 51, 730-742.
-                      Velde, J. V. D., Gromann, P., Swart, M., Wiersma, D., Haan, L. D., Bruggeman, R., Krabbendam, L., & Aleman, A. (2014). Alexithymia influences brain activation during emotion perception but not regulation. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 10, 285-293.
-                      Velde, J. V. D., Van Tol, M., Goerhich-Dobre, K. S., Gromann, P. M., Swart, M., Haan, L. D., Bruggeman, R, et al. (2014). Dissociable morphometric profiles of the affective and cognitive dimensions of alexithymia. CORTEX, 54, 190-199.
-                      Warner, K., & Gross, J. J. (2010). Emotion Regulation and psychopathology: A conceptual framework. In: Kring, A., Sloan, D (Eds.). Emotion regulation and psychopathology: A Trans diagnostic approach to etiology and treatment (pp. 13-37). Guilford Press, New York.
-                      Watson, D., Clarke, L. A., & Tellegen, A. (1988). Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS Scales. Journal of personality and Social Psychology, 54, 1063-1070.
-                      Wingbermühle, E., Theunissen, H., Verhoeven, W. M. A., Kessels, R. P. C., & Egger, J. I. M. (2012). The neurocognition of alexithymia: evidence from neuropsychological and neuroimaging studies. Acta Neuropsychiatrica, 24, 67-80.
-                      Young, J. E. (1999). Cognitive Therapy for personality Disorder: A Schema-Focused approach.
-                      Young, J. E., & Brown, G. (1999). Young schema Questionnaire-L3a. Cognitive Therapy of New York: Authors.
-                      Young, J. E., Klosko, J. S., & Weishaar, M. E. (2003). Schema therapy: A practitioner′s guide: New York: Guilford Publication.
-                      Zare, M., Rezaei, A. (2016). Mediating Role of the Cognitive Emotional Regulation for Personality Characters and Marital Satisfaction. Journal of Psychological Models and Methods, 7(24), 91-102. (Fa)
Zeigler-Hill, V., Green, B. A., Arnau, R. C., Sisemore, T. B., & Myers, E. M. (2011). Trouble ahead, trouble behind: Narcissism and early maladaptive schemas. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Exprimental Psychiatry, 42, 96-103.