A Comparison of Early Maladaptive Schemata Among Homosexual, Bisexual and Heterosexual People in Iran

Abstract

The current study was conducted in order to compare the Early Maladaptive Schemata (EMS) in homosexual and bisexual people and compare them with the heterosexual group. The 150 study participants consisting of 62 homosexual and 13 bisexual people (mean age = 25.50, SD = 5.09), were selected from several cities in Iran. The 75 heterosexuals were selected from the general population and matched with the study group based on age, sex, and educational level. Each person completed a Young Schema Questionnaire (short form) and a demographic data sheet. In addition, the groups of sexual minorities also completed the researcher constructed Questionnaire. The results show that homosexual group scores in some schemata such as mistrust/abuse, defectiveness/shame, social isolation, emotional inhibition and sacrifice, were significantly higher than the heterosexual group. The results also show that the entitlement schema score was significantly higher in both the homosexuals and bisexuals. Different developmental procedures and negative social attitudes toward sexual minorities could explain the higher scores of some schemata in this group. This study may have also useful clinical implications for mental health professionals working with sexual minorities.

Sexual and gender minority health in the Middle East and North Africa Region: A scoping review

“…Sexual minority individuals whose families were not aware of their sexual identity scored significantly higher on social isolation, vulnerability to harm/illness, and emotional inhibition than those whose families were aware ( Nematy et al., 2014 ). Although sexual minority participants generally endorsed low levels of internalized homonegativity ( Michli and El, 2020 ), those who reported less comfort with their sexual identities reported higher levels of anxiety ( Nematy and Oloomi, 2016 ).…”

“…Compared to heterosexuals, sexual minority individuals reported higher levels of anxiety ( Nematy and Oloomi, 2016 ), social isolation, feelings of defectiveness/shame, and emotional inhibition ( Nematy et al., 2014 ). There was no significant difference in attachment styles (defined as closeness, dependency, and anxiety) between bisexual/lesbian women and gay men ( Nematy and Oloomi, 2016 ).…”

“…Sense of belonging to a community buffered the impact of internalized homonegativity ( Michli and El, 2020 ). Although the above mentioned researchers ( Michli and El, 2020 ; Nematy and Oloomi, 2016 ; Nematy et al., 2014 ; Scull and Mousa, 2017 ) included sexual minority women in their overall sample, none disaggregated the findings.…”

“…Although the number of studies with sexual and gender minority individuals is growing in the region (11 studies between 2000 and 2010 compared with 87 studies between 2011 and 2021), only one exclusively focused on cisgender sexual minority women ( Gereige et al., 2018 ). Researchers in five studies included sexual minority women in their overall sample, but none disaggregated the findings ( Abboud et al., 2020 ; Michli and El, 2020 ; Nematy and Oloomi, 2016 ; Nematy et al., 2014 ; Scull and Mousa, 2017 ). Only 10 studies included transgender men.…”

Low self-esteem: a refined cognitive behavioural model

“…People with stigmatised characteristics such as having a minority sexual orientation are more likely to report negative core beliefs about social connection (e.g. Nematy et al ., 2014). Examples are ‘I am different to other people/I am unacceptable’ and ‘Other people don’t accept me/reject me/exclude me’.…”