Mindfulness and Early Maladaptive Schemas Among Men in Treatment for Substance Use Disorder

Early maladaptive schema (EMS), the dysfunctional life views regarding oneself or others, is relatively more prevalent in clinical populations and is related to avoidant behaviors (e.g., substance use). Avoidance is inconsistent with the acceptance of present-moment experiences characterized by mindfulness. As such, dispositional mindfulness negatively related to EMS in samples recruited from the community and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment facilities. However, past research used small or non-clinical samples with limited measures of mindfulness and analyses that preclude the possibility of tailoring future treatments to specific mindfulness deficits within a clinical sample.

Path analyses revealed that the EMS domains of disconnection and rejection and overvigilance and inhibition negatively associated with acting with awareness, controlling for substance use. Additionally, impaired limits negatively related to the other four mindfulness facets and disconnection and rejection related to describing experience and observing experience.

Results suggest therapeutic interventions may need to be tailored to specific EMS domains and mindfulness facets within individuals in treatment for SUDs.