The influence of cognitive emotion regulation strategies on the causal links between early maladaptive schemas, anger rumination and aggression

Recently, years have witnessed an increase of research on socio‐affective factors that can explain individual differences in aggressive tendencies between adolescence. Specifically, anger rumination and early maladaptive schemas have emerged as important factors, which could also constitute important prevention targets. Yet, recent studies have advanced the possibility that the relationship between these variables are mediated by other cognitive-emotional factors that are associated with aggression.

This study sought to elucidate relationships among early maladaptive schemas, anger rumination and aggression with mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation strategies.

This study is a correlation study of structural equation modeling. The statistical population of the study consisted of all students of high schools in 2020-2021 in Yasouj city, among which 340 students were selected by multi-stage sampling. The research instruments consisted of Early Young Shortcoming Schematic Form (SQ-SF), Boss and Perry's Aggression Questionnaire, cognitive emotion regulation by Garnefski et al. (2002) and anger rumination scale (ARS). The reliability of the questionnaires was approved using cronbach's alpha coefficient and Evaluation of the proposed model with path analysis was done.

Results revealed expected associations between anger rumination, early maladaptive schemas and aggression, Further, analyses of indirect effects revealed that cognitive emotion regulation strategies have mediating role for relationships between anger rumination and early maladaptive schemas with aggression.

Overall, regarding the role of early maladaptive schemas, anger rumination, and cognitive emotion regulation strategies in revealing and maintaining adolescent aggression, these variables can be targeted for reducing aggression.