Early maladaptive schemas and intimate partner violence victimization and perpetration: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Abstract

Young's early maladaptive schemas represent a possible pathway between childhood adversity and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). The aim of this review was to synthesize the evidence on early maladaptive schemas and IPV. PubMed, PsycInfo, and CINAHL databases were searched, in compliance with PRISMA, to identify peer reviewed studies that reported on the relationship between schema or schema domain scores and IPV victimization or perpetration. Based on nine included studies, meta‐analyses indicated that IPV victimization showed a moderate association with the Disconnection and Rejection and Impaired Autonomy domains, and a small association with Other‐Directedness. The Mistrust Abuse and Vulnerability to Harm schemas were moderately correlated with victimization. Mistrust Abuse was also implicated in perpetration but insufficient data were available for meta‐analysis. The evidence suggests that being a victim of IPV is associated with an expectation that one's needs for love and safety will not be met and doubt regarding one's capacity to handle responsibilities or succeed in life.

Cognitive distortions mediate relationships between early maladaptive schemas and aggression in women and men

“…We suggest that such determinations are not only more cognitively taxing, they are also more susceptible to error and distortion. Indeed, previous research has shown the impaired autonomy domain to be associated with interpretive errors, particularly unwarranted sensitivity to perceived threats, fear of loss, and fear of victimization (Pilkington et al, 2021). We suggest that future research be conducted to explore this idea further.…”

“…Bivariate correlations between this domain and both physical aggression and anger were found to be significantly larger for men than women, and paths from this domain to anger and hostility were only found to be significant for men, not women. Although previous research has found disconnection/rejection to be relevant to aggression in both sexes (Fernández‐González et al, 2022; Pilkington et al, 2021), this research has focussed on relational/indirect forms of aggression. Our results suggest that this EMS domain may be gendered but only in relation to expressions of aggression and anger (Askari, 2019).…”

“…The impaired limits domain is associated with verbal and physical aggression, particularly in men who are in relationships with women (Shorey et al, 2017). The impaired autonomy domain is associated with both perpetration and victimization, particularly in women (Kachadourian et al, 2013; Pilkington et al, 2021). The over‐vigilance/inhibition domain is associated with both physical and verbal aggression in both women and men seeking treatment for substance abuse (Shorey et al, 2015).…”

Do insecure adult attachment styles mediate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and violent behavior?

“…Neglected children may learn they are ineffective in communicating their needs and obtaining support, and so intensify their demands for attention and care, or become helpless in the absence of a successful strategy (Crittenden & Ainsworth, 1989;Cyr et al, 2010). They may construct schemas of themselves as unworthy and unable to cope independently (Pilkington et al, 2021) and develop intense concern that others will reject or abandon them (i.e., attachment anxiety). Physical abuse, on the other hand, involves threat of harm to the child's physical integrity and may lead to working models of the world as threatening and dangerous.…”

Parental separation or divorce and adulthood attachment: The mediating role of the Abandonment schema

“…It is well‐established that adverse childhood experiences are precursors to maladaptive schema formation (Lumley & Harkness, 2007; Pilkington et al, 2020; Tezel et al, 2015; Thimm, 2010) and that EMS are associated with an array of negative psychosocial outcomes such as depression (Nicol et al, 2020), intimate partner violence (Hassija et al, 2018; Pilkington, Noonan, et al, 2021), and suicidality (Dale et al, 2010; Pilkington, Younan, & Bishop, 2021). A recent meta‐analysis by Janovsky et al (2020) found that EMS show small to moderate correlations with interpersonal problems.…”