Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Emotional schemas mediate the relationship between emotion regulation and symptomatology

  • Published:
Current Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Emotional schemas are identified as the underlying mental structures associated with a wide range of emotional disorders. They may also be regarded as a transdiagnostic construct. However, the implications of specific emotional schemas on emotion regulation are not clear. In this sense, this study aims to explore how emotional schemas relate to emotional regulation and symptomatology. For this purpose, 416 (Mage = 20.86, SD = 5.22) individuals fulfilled self-reported questionnaires which were analyzed in a cross-sectional design. Results showed that emotional schemas were correlated with emotion regulation. Furthermore, emotional invalidation, non-acceptance, and uncontrollability were significant mediators of the relationship between emotional suppression and symptomatology. Emotional schemas may play a wider role in psychological disorders being a core issue to be addressed in psychotherapy. These results may enhance case conceptualization and psychological interventions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aldao, A., & Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2012). The influence of context on the implementation of adaptive emotion regulation strategies. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 50, 493–501

  • Aldao, A., Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Schweizer. S. (2010). Emotion-regulation strategies across psychopathology: A meta-analytic review. Clinical Psychological Review, 30(2), 217–237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2009.11.004

  • Balsamo, M., Carlucci, L., Sergi, M. R., Klein, Murdock K, & Saggino A. (2015). The mediating role of early maladaptive schemas in the relation between co-rumination and depression in young adults. PLoS ONE, 10(10): e0140177. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0140177

  • Barlow. H. D., & Colleagues (2017). The unified protocol for Transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders compared with diagnosis-specific protocols for anxiety disorders. A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 4(9), 875–884. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.2164

  • Barreira, J. (2016). Relações entre dificuldades de processamento emocional, regulação emocional, necessidades psicológicas, sintomatologia e bem-estar/distress. Master thesis in Faculty of Psychology of University of Lisbon [Relationship between emotional processing difficulties, emotional regulation, psychological needs, symptomatology and well-being/distress.] http://hdl.handle.net/10451/27559.

  • Batmaz, S., Ulusoy Kaymak, S., Kocbiyik, S., & Turkcapar, M. H. (2014). Metacognitions and emotional schemas: a new cognitive perspective for the distinction between unipolar and bipolar depression. Comprehensive psychiatry, 55(7), 1546–1555. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2014.05.016.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Butler, E. A., Egloff, B., Wlhelm, F. H., Smith, N. C., Erickson, E. A., & Gross, J. (2003). The social consequences of expressive suppression. Emotion, 3(1), 48–67. https://doi.org/10.1037/1528-3542.3.1.48

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Byrne, B. M. (2010). Multivariate applications series. Structural equation modeling with AMOS: Basic concepts, applications, and programming (2nd ed.). Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group

  • Canavarro, M. C. (1999). Inventário de sintomas psicopatológicos –BSI. In M. R. Simões, M. Gonçalves, L. S. Almeida (Eds.), Testes e Provas Psicológicas em Portugal (Vol. II, pp.95–109). APPORT/SHO

  • Castelo-Branco, M., (2016). Relações entre regulação emocional, regulação da satisfação das necessidades psicológicas, bem-estar/distress psicológicos e sintomatologia. Master thesis in the Faculty of Psychology of University of Lisbon. [Relationships between emotional regulation, regulation of the satisfaction of psychological needs, psychological well-being/distress and symptomatology] http://hdl.handle.net/10451/25628.

  • Cisler, J. M., Olatunji, B. O., Feldner, M. T., & Forsyth, J. P. (2010). Emotion regulation and the anxiety disorders: An integrative review. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 32(1), 68–82. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-009-9161-1

  • D'Avanzato, C., Joormann, J., Siemer, M., & Gotlib, I. H. (2013). Emotion regulation in depression and anxiety: Examining diagnostic specificity and stability of strategy use. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 37(5), 968–980. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-013-9537-0

  • Derogatis, L. R. (1993). The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI): Administration. National Computer Systems, Minneapolis, MN, USA: Scoring and Procedures Manual.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, E., & Wupperman, P. (2019). Research on emotional schemas: A review of findings and challenges. Clinical Psychologist, 23(1), 3–14. https://doi.org/10.1111/cp.12171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, E. R., Micek, A., Mottarella, K., & Wupperman, P. (2017). Emotion ideology mediates effects of risk factors on alexithymia development. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive Behavior Therapy, 35(3), 254–277. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-016-0254-y

  • Elliott, R., Watson, J. C., Goldman, R. N., & Greenberg, L. S. (2004). Learning emotion-focused therapy: The process-experiential approach to change. American Psychological Association

  • Faustino, B. (2021). Transdiagnostic perspective on psychological inflexibility and emotional dysregulation. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 49(2), 233–246. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1352465820000600.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Faustino, B. & Vasco. A. B. (2020a). Schematic functioning, interpersonal dysfunctional cycles and cognitive fusion in the complementary paradigmatic perspective: Analysis of a clinical sample. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 1(50), 47–55. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-019-09422-x

  • Faustino, B. & Vasco. A. B. (2020b). Early maladaptive schemas and cognitive fusion on the regulation of psychological needs. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy 1(50), 105–112. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-019-09446-3.

  • Faustino, B., & Vasco, A. B. (2020c). Relationships between emotional processing difficulties and early maladaptive schemas on the regulation of psychological needs. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy 27(6), 804–813. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.24643

  • Faustino, B., Fonseca, I., Antonio, A. B., Baião, M., Lopes, P., Oliveira (2019). Esquemas Precoces Mal-adaptativos e Dificuldades Emocionais na Regulação das Necessidades Psicológicas: Um estudo com indicadores comportamentais, Revista de Psicossomática ISSN - 2183-9344, 4. [Early Maladaptive Schemas and Emotional Difficulties on Regulation of Psychological Needs: A study with behavioral indicators]

  • Faustino, B., Vasco, A. B., Silva, A. N., & Marques, T. (2020). Relationships between emotional schemas, mindfulness, self-compassion and unconditional self-acceptance on the regulation of psychological needs. Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome, 23(2).https://doi.org/10.4081/ripppo.2020.442.

  • Goldfried, M. R. (2019). Obtaining consensus in psychotherapy: What holds us back? American Psychologist, 74(4), 484–496. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000365

  • Greenberg, L. S. (2015). Emotion-focused therapy: Coaching clients to work through their feelings. 2° ed. American Psychological Association

  • Gross, J. J. (2002). Emotion regulation: affective, cognitive, and social consequences. Psychophysiology, 39, 281–291. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0048577201393198.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gross, J. J., & John, O. P. (2003). Individual differences in two emotion regulation processes: implications for affect, relationships, and well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85, 348–362. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.85.2.348.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gross, J. & Oliver, J. (2003). Individual differences in two emotion regulation processes: Implications for affect, relationships, and well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85(2): 348–362. Doi:10.1.1.688.115. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.85.2.348

  • Hayes, A. F. (2013). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approach. New York: Guilford Press.

  • Krause, E. D., Mendelson, T., & Lynch, T. R. (2003). Childhood emotional invalidation and adult psychological distress: the mediating role of emotional inhibition. Child abuse & neglect, 27(2), 199–213. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0145-2134(02)00536-7.

  • Leahy, R. L. (2002). A model of emotional schemas. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 9, 177–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1077-7229(02)80048-7

  • Leahy, R. L. (2012). Introduction: Emotional Schemas, Emotion Regulation, and Psychopathology. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 5(4), 359–361. https://doi.org/10.1521/ijct.2012.5.4.359.

  • Leahy, R. L. (2015). Emotional schema therapy. Guilford Press.

  • Leahy, R. L, Tirch, D., & Napolitano, L. (2011). Emotion regulation in psychotherapy: A Practitioner’s guide. Guilford

  • Leahy, R. L., Wupperman, P., Edwards, E., Shivaji, S., & Molina, N. (2019). Metacognition and emotional schemas: Effects on depression and anxiety. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 12(1), 25–37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41811-018-0035-8.

  • Manser, R., Cooper, M., & Trefusis, J. (2012). Beliefs about Emotions as a Metacognitive Construct: Initial Development of a Self-Report Questionnaire Measure and Preliminary Investigation in Relation to Emotion Regulation. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 19, 235–246. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.745.

  • Pallant, J. (2007). SPSS survival manual: A step by step guide to data analysis using SPSS for Windows (version 15). Berkshire: Open University Press, McGrow Hill Education.

  • Pinto-Gouveia, J. & Dinis. A. (2008). Leahy emotional schema scale-modified (LESS, Leahy, 2002). Mmanuscrito não publicado. Unpublished manuscript

  • Roelofs, J., Onckels, L., & Muris, P. (2013). Attachment quality and psychopathological symptoms in clinically referred adolescents: The mediating role of early maladaptive schema. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 22(3), 377–385. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-012-9589-x

  • Silberstein, L. R., Tirch, D., Leahy, R. L., & McGinn, L. (2012). Mindfulness, psychological flexibility and emotional schemas. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 5(4), 406–419. https://doi.org/10.1521/ijct.2012.5.4.406.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silva, A.N., Matos, M., Faustino, B, Dias Neto, D. (2019). Portuguese version of the Leahy emotional schema scale (LESS). Poster presented in world congress of Behavioural and cognitive therapies at the CityCube, Berlin. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.21835.41769. Available from: https:// www.researchgate.net/publication/344283057_Portuguese_version_of_the_Leahy_Emotional_Schema_Scale_LESS?channel=doi&linkId=5f63244d92851c14bc818b1c&showFulltext=true

  • Simpson, T., Jakupcak, M., & Luterek, J. A. (2006). Fear and Avoidance of Internal Experiences Among Patients With Substance Use Disorders and PTSD: The Centrality of Anxiety Sensitivity. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 19(4), 481–491. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.20128.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tamir, M. (2009). What do people want to feel and why? Pleasure and utility in emotion regulation. Current Directions Psychol Sci 18(2): 101–105. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2009.01617.x

  • Tirch, D. D., Leahy, R. L., Silberstein, L. R., & Melwani, P. S. (2012). Emotional schemas, psychological flexibility, and anxiety: the role of flexible response patterns to anxious arousal. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 5, 380–391. https://doi.org/10.1521/ijct.2012.5.4.380.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vasco, A. B. (2005). A conceptualização de caso no modelo de complementaridade paradigmática: variedade e integração. Psychologica, 40, 11–36

  • Vasco, A. B., Conceição, N., Silva, A. N., Ferreira, J. F., Vaz-Velho, C. (2018). O (meta)modelo de complementaridade paradigmática (MCP). In I. Leal (Ed.), Psicoterapias. Lisbon: Pactor. [Paradigmatic Complementarity Metamodel]

  • Vaz, F., & Martins, C. (2009). Diferenciação e Regulação Emocional na Idade Adulta: Tradução e validação de dois instrumentos de avaliação para a população portuguesa. Master thesis, Minho University. [Differentiation and Emotional Regulation in Adulthood: translation and validation of two assessment instruments for the Portuguese population]

  • Webb, T. L., Miles, E., & Sheeran, P. (2012). Dealing with feeling:a meta-analysis of the effectiveness of strategies derived from the process model of emotion regulation. Psychological Bulletin, 138, 775–808. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027600.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cognitive, Behavioral and Integrative Psychotherapy, Faculty of Psychology of the University of Lisbon, Portugal; Faculdade de Psicologia da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

    Bruno Faustino & António Branco Vasco

Authors
  1. Bruno Faustino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. António Branco Vasco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bruno Faustino.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Data Statement: Research data are not shared

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Faustino, B., Vasco, A.B. Emotional schemas mediate the relationship between emotion regulation and symptomatology. Curr Psychol 42, 2733–2739 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01560-7

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01560-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation