Early maladaptive schemas and symptoms of psychopathology in children in residential care.

Abstract

According to schema theory, early maladaptive schemas (EMS) contribute to the onset and development of psychopathology. Given that research on EMS in children is limited, the contribution of the present study is that it investigates the role of EMS in psychopathology in children living in residential care. Participants of the present study were children who lived in residential care and were referred for assessment to the Day Center "The House of the Child" run by the Organisation "The Smile of the Child". The study sample comprised of 75 children (35 boys, 40 girls), mean age 12.7 years old. The Greek version of the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist was completed by the child's caregiver, whereas the Greek version of the Schema Questionnaire for Children was administered to children. The research questions were explored by implementing both variable-focused (multiple regression) as well as person-focused (cluster analysis) techniques. The Confirmatory Factor Analysis conducted in the Schema Questionnaire for Children showed acceptable goodness of fit indices. The Vulnerability schema was found to be the highest scoring schema. Social isolation was a strong predictor for most indicators of psychopathology (internalizing and externalizing). Strong predictor for the Symptoms of Withdrawal, Anxiety/Depression, Social Problems and Thought Problems was the EMS of Failure. Hierarchical cluster analysis on schemas revealed two strong clusters, one with low scores and one with high scores in most EMS. In the cluster with high levels of EMS, Emotional deprivation, Failure, Defectiveness, Social isolation and Abandonment showed the highest scores. In this cluster, children presented statistically significant burdened indicators in externalizing psychopathology. Our hypotheses that EMS and, especially, schemas related to the domains of Disconnection/Rejection and Impaired Autonomy/Performance would be predictive indicators of psychopathology were confirmed. Cluster analysis confirmed the above findings and highlighted the role of schemas Emotional deprivation and Defectiveness in the emergence of psychopathology symptoms. The results of the current study highlight the importance of assessing EMS in children who live in residential care and could inform the development of appropriate intervention programs in this population to prevent the establishment of psychopathology.