J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2012 Jul;51(4):156-163.

Stability of Early Maladaptive Schemas and Their Relationships with Depressive Symptoms : A 2-Year Follow-Up Study

• Yang DS
• Bae GY
• Lee SJ

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Early maladaptive schemas (EMS) are assumed to be stable emotional and cognitive patterns that begin early in our development and are repeated throughout life. The primary aim of this study was to examine the two-year stability of EMS using the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ). In addition, we investigated the relationship between EMS and depressive symptoms over time.
METHODS
Seventy-nine medical students completed the YSQ-short form 3, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised during their first and third years of medical school.
RESULTS
After controlling for depression severity, YSQ subscales showed significant test-retest correlations for all of the subscales (r between 0.49 and 0.77, ps<0.001). Mean scores for all of the subscales did not differ significantly at retest, with the exception of a significant reduction of vulnerability to harm/illness (t=3.71, p<0.001). Concerning the relationship with depression, some YSQ subscales showed association with the severity of depressive symptoms at each time point, as well as changes between two time points. In particular, the schemas of Defectiveness/Shame and Dependence/Incompetence showed a strong association with changes of depressive symptoms.
CONCLUSION
These findings demonstrated that EMS measured using the YSQ may show con-siderable temporal stability over time, but, in part, may be affected by an individual's state, such as depression.

Keyword

Early maladaptive schema; Stability; Young Schema Questionnaire; Depression; Schema therapy

MeSH Terms

Depression
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Surveys and Questionnaires
Students, Medical

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