Date Approved

2-22-2006

Embargo Period

4-5-2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A. in Mental Health Counseling and Applied Psychology

Department

Psychology

College

College of Science & Mathematics

Advisor

Haugh, James

Subject(s)

Neuroses in adolescence; Parental influences

Disciplines

Psychology

Abstract

Cognitive theory proposes that maladaptive schemas influence the development of anxious and depressive symptoms and early parental experiences have been proposed to influence schema development. In this current study, measures of depressive and anxious pathology, parenting styles, coping styles and interpersonal problems were administered to 224 undergraduate students. The main purpose the study was to test the cognitive model and the hypothesis that early maladaptive schemas (EMS) as defined by Young (1994) mediate the relationship between parenting styles and anxious and depressive pathology. Results indicated that EMSs do play an important mediational role in relationship to both anxious and depressive pathology. The second goal of the study was to further test the content specificity hypothesis in relationship to both anxious and depressive symptoms. Results of the study provided inconsistent support for the content specificity hypothesis. The final two goals of the study were to investigate the role EMSs play in the development of interpersonal problems and the role EMSs play in the development of maladaptive coping styles. Results of the study indicated that EMSs play an important role in the development of interpersonal problems and EMSs play an important role in the development of maladaptive coping styles.

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