The role of early maladaptive schemas and coping in the development of anxiety and depression symptoms

The present prospective study examined the relationship among cognitive style, coping, and anxiety and depression symptoms in a sample of undergraduate students. Based on the Resources Model (Holahan & Moos, 1987) and Schema-Focused Therapy (Young & Klosko, 1994), it was hypothesized that the presence of early maladaptive schemas (EMS) would predict an increase in symptoms of anxiety and depression through dysfunctional ways of coping with stress. The final sample consisted of 374 students, who completed measures on EMS, coping strategies, and anxiety and depression symptoms. The results indicate that disengagement coping strategies, such as avoidance, denial, and wishful thinking, are partial and/or total mediators of the relationship between EMS and symptoms. Instead, the coping strategies of primary and secondary control did not result significant mediators. Ultimately, the mechanism through which the EMS leads to symptoms is the use of disengagement strategies, especially in the case of anxiety symptoms.