Structural model of attachment styles, early maladaptive schemas and health dimensions by mediating coping styles

Knowing the variables affecting health is clinically important. The purpose of this study was to determine the mediating role of coping styles in relation between attachment styles and early maladaptive schemas and health dimensions.

In a descriptive study, 500 students from Azad University of Medical Sciences of Tehran between 2017 and 2018 were selected by available sampling method. Participants (250 female and 250 male) were asked to complete questionnaires of adult attachment scales, early maladaptive schemas, coping styles, and general health. Data analysis was performed using structural equation modeling.

The results showed that the tested model had suitable fit. There was a significant negative relationship between subscales of attachment styles other than secure attachment with dimensions of health. In the early maladaptive schemas scale, other than the sub-scale of the other direction, the other subscales had a significant negative relationship with the dimensions of health. In the scale of coping styles, there was a significant positive correlation between problem-oriented strategy subscales, and emotional-oriented strategies had a negative significant relation with health dimensions, The results also showed that coping styles had mediating role in the relationship between attachment styles and early maladaptive schemas with health dimensions.

These findings, while pointing to the complexity of attachment nature, early maladaptive schemas and coping styles, emphasize the identification and conceptualization of various variables affecting health.