RESEARCH ARTICLE
Relationships between emotional processing difficulties and early maladaptive schemas on the regulation of psychological needs
Bruno Faustino,
António Branco Vasco,
Corresponding Author
Bruno Faustino
Faculty of Psychology, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
Correspondence
Bruno Faustino, Faculty of Psychology, University of Lisbon, Alameda da Universidade, Lisbon, Portugal.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorAntónio Branco Vasco
Faculty of Psychology, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
Search for more papers by this authorBruno Faustino,
António Branco Vasco,
Corresponding Author
Bruno Faustino
Faculty of Psychology, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
Correspondence
Bruno Faustino, Faculty of Psychology, University of Lisbon, Alameda da Universidade, Lisbon, Portugal.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorAntónio Branco Vasco
Faculty of Psychology, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Emotional processing difficulties may be viewed as dysfunctional emotional states emerging from non-adequately processed emotional experience while early maladaptive schemas are experienced-based dysfunctional mental structures associated with chronic and recurrent psychological disorders. Schemas and emotional difficulties were previously associated with impairments on the regulation of psychological needs. However, clarifications about the relationships between these constructs are lacking. In a cross-sectional study, a clinical sample of 66 participants (M = 46.4, SD = 13.1) completed self-report questionnaires. Emotional processing difficulties correlated positively with schemas and negatively with the regulation of psychological needs. Disconnection and rejection, lack of autonomy and impaired limits schema domains mediated the relationship between emotional processing difficulties and psychological needs. Emotional processing difficulties may be associated with impairments on the regulation of psychological needs, due to activation of early maladaptive schemas, which, in turn, prompts symptomatology. Transtheoretical intervention regarding marker-guided interventions and phase-by-phase schema restructuring may be used to promote the regulation of psychological needs.
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