Comparison of Early Maladjusted Schemas, Hidden Anxiety, and Cognitive Regulation of Emotion in Normal and Delinquency Juveniles

Delinquency is one of the social problems which is usually erupted during adolescence and caused serious problems for them, their families, and the society. There are various factors lead to delinquency, like early maladaptive schemas, anxiety, and cognitive regulation of emotion. This study was aimed to compare the early maladaptive schemas, hidden anxiety, and cognitive regulation of emotion in normal and delinquent juveniles in Mashhad, Iran.
In this causal-comparative study, there were two groups consisted of 60 male students (aged 12-17 years), divided in normal and delinquent groups. The group of normal juveniles (from high school) was selected by multistage cluster sample and the group of juvenile delinquents (from offenders group in juvenile institution) was selected by simple random sample. The questionnaires were concluded the Young early maladaptive schemas questionnaire, the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety questionnaire, and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation questionnaire by Garnefski & Kraaij.
Data indicated that the mean scores of early maladaptive schemas in the juvenile delinquents were higher than in normal juveniles. In contrary, the mean scores of hidden anxiety and positive cognitive regulation of emotion were significantly higher in normal group. Regarding the negative cognitive regulation of emotion, there was no difference between two groups.
According to significant difference of early maladaptive schemas, hidden anxiety, and positive cognitive regulation of emotion between the delinquent and the normal groups, individual adjustment as well as psychological and social growth can be advantageous and helpful.