Abstract

This study explores how early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) contribute to the development of anxiety symptomologies among college undergraduates (N=110). The study was conducted by assessing the correlations between 18 schemas derived from Young’s model of Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMSs) and anxiety symptoms using Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), self-reported anxiety assessment arranging severity into 4 indexes ranging from normal range, minimal to moderate anxiety, marked to severe anxiety, and extreme anxiety. The study examined how each of the 18 individual EMSs serves as predictors of anxiety symptomatology in college students. The results of the study show that 14 out of 18 early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) were predictive of anxiety symptoms. Aside from the association of anxiety symptoms and EMSs, the findings of the study reveal the important role of gender and ethnicity in predicting anxiety and individual EMSs. Unrelenting Standard/Hyper criticalness and Approval-Seeking/Recognition-Seeking were the two leading EMSs characterized by the majority of the respondents may be explained by the Thai collectivist culture which incorporates the values that form a part of these schemas as socially desirable and emphasizes the importance of conformity and approval of others.

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