Prediction of neuroticism based on attachment styles and early maladaptive schemas in clients of counseling centers in the City of Qom

Neuroticism is defined as a general tendency to experience negative feelings. This factor is very important in psychology to predict of people’s behavior.

The peresent study aimed at Predicting neuroticism based on attachment styles and early maladaptive schemas in clients of counseling centers in the City of Qom.

This is a descriptive correlational study. The statistical population included all patients of counseling centers in Qom in 1395. A sample of 77 women and 50 men were randomly selected. Measurement tools included NEO Personality Inventory (NEO long form, NEO-PI-R), the Young Schema Questionnaire (long-form third edition of 232 questions) and Adult Attachment Inventory (AAI). To analyze the data, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression were used.

The results showed that the entire early maladaptive schemas and all three attachment styles (secure, avoidant, ambivalent) could significantly predict neuroticism of clients of counseling centers (P˂0.05), (P˂0.01). Although all early maladaptive schemas and all three attachment was negatively correlated with neuroticism, and also three schmas namely abandonment/instability, insufficient self-control/ self-discipline, and negativity/ pessimism and two attachment styles that are secure and ambivalent predicted neuroticism more accurately.

Results revealed that the simultaneous role of attachment styles and early maladaptive schemas is significant in the Prediction of neuroticism. They imply that in counseling sessions with patients who suffer from neuroticisim, the counsellor must take into consideration the early maladaptive schemas and attachment styles.