The structural equation modeling to study relationship between early maladaptive schemas with social phobia with mediating emotional intelligence

The purposes of this study determine the structural equation modeling to study relationship between early maladaptive schemas with social phobia with mediating emotional intelligence. The descriptive- correlation method was used. The statistical population consists of female students’ of high schools in Tehran city in year 2017-2018. According to cluster sampling method, 400 female students were selected as samples and they were asked to fill in the schema questionnaire–short form of Young (2005), social phobia inventory (SPIN) of Connor, Davidson, Churchill, Sherwood, Foa and Weisler (2000), and emotional intelligence scale of Shiring (1996). The data were analyzed by tests of Pearson correlation, hierarchical regression and Bootstrap by structural equation model (SEM). Findings showed that there was a positive and significant correlation between early maladaptive schemas and with social phobia of students (P<0/01). There was a negative and significant correlation between emotional intelligence and with social phobia of students (P<0/01). Bootstrap by structural equation model analyses also revealed that indirect role early maladaptive schemas and social phobia with mediating emotional intelligence. The findings indicated that not only social anxiety was affected by bad-functioning in maladaptive schemas but also the symptoms of this disorder was aggravated by non-emotional intelligence; so that the negative effects of defective cognition on social anxiety were increased through defective performance of emotional intelligence and aggravated the symptoms of social anxiety in students.