The mediating role of emotion regulation strategies in the relationship between early maladaptive schemas with adolescent internalization and externalizing behavioral disorders

The main objective of this study was to investigate the mediating role of emotion regulation strategies in the relationship between early maladaptive schemas with adolescent internalization and externalizing behavioral disorders. This study was applied and correlational study. The study population consisted of all secondary school students of Shiraz. Place sampling method used and total of 200 questionnaires were collected. To collect data three questionnaires included Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire-Kids, Young Early Maladaptive Schema Questionnaire (Short Form), and Achenbach child behavior checklist (CBCL) questionnaire used. In order to analyze the data Pearson correlation and path analysis were used. The results showed that emotion regulation strategies has a mediating role in the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and internalization and externalizing behavioral disorders (P<0.05). Early maladaptive schemas have a significant effect on internalization and externalizing behavioral disorders (P <0.05). Moreover, the results of the study revealed that emotion regulation strategies had a significant positive effect on internalization and externalizing behavioral disorders (p<0.05). In general, the results of the current study demonstrated that early maladaptive schemas by mediation of emotion regulation strategies can cause the occurrence of internalization and externalizing behavioral disorders; the fact to which parents and authorities in the country’s educational system should give special consideration.