Childhood Maltreatment as a Predictor of Subsequent Interpersonal Problems in Young Adult Relationships: The Mediating Role of Maladaptive Schemas
Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: Childhood maltreatment has been linked to subsequent social avoidance, revictimization, and perpetration of aggression in young adult relationships, although the mechanisms through which this occurs are unclear.One possible underlying mechanism is early maladaptive schemas, which are defined as enduring dysfunctional core beliefs that one has about himself/herself, others, and himself/herself in relation to others.The current study examined maladaptive schemas as a mediator of the relation between cumulative childhood maltreatment and subsequent perpetration of aggression, revictimization, and social avoidance and distress in young adulthood.Based on existing theoretical literature, I hypothesized that cumulative childhood maltreatment (i.e., physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, and neglect) and exposure to family violence would each be positively associated with subsequent perpetration of aggression (i.e., physical, verbal, indirect, and sexual aggression), victimization (i.e., physical, verbal, indirect, and sexual aggression), and social avoidance and distress in young adulthood.In addition, I expected that maladaptive schemas in the Impaired Limits domain (i.e., entitlement/grandiosity, insufficient self-control/self-discipline), and the individual schemas of mistrust/abuse and emotional inhibition would mediate the relations of cumulative childhood maltreatment and exposure to family violence to perpetration of aggression.Conversely, I expected that maladaptive schemas in the domains of Disconnection/Rejection (i.e., abandonment/instability, mistrust/abuse,
Author: Samantha Holt
Institution: Bowling Green State University
Language: English
Topic: Child Abuse and Trauma
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2602354495