Emotional Dependence in Romantic Relationships: The Role of Adverse Children’s Experience and Early Dysfunction Schemes

Abstract

Emotional dependency is a persistent pattern of unsatisfied emotional needs, that the individual tries to fulfill in close intimate relationship in particular romantic relationship. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are often identified as a cause of emotional dependency. However, there is plenty of evidence that many psychosocial problems are more strongly associated with early maladaptive schemas (EMS), than directly with ACEs. ACEs and EMS both can have effect on emotional dependency. Such assumption has strong theoretical reasoning, but there is still lack of empirical evidence about the exact role ACEs and EMS can play in emotional dependency. The present study examined early maladaptive schemas as mediators of the adverse childhood experiences – emotional dependency in romantic relationship.
 The study has cross-sectional design. Questionnaires completed by 128 individuals (78% females) (Mage=26; SD=9), who currently or in the past were involved in romantic relationship. There were assessed 10 types of childhood trauma (The Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire), early maladaptive schemas (Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form) and emotional dependency (Emotional Dependency Questionnaire). The mediation role of EMS was tested by Baron and Kenny (1986) analysis strategy using hierarchical multiple regression procedures.
 The findings showed that ACEs didn’t predict, but such EMS as abandonment / instability, mistrust / abuse and failure to achieve did predict emotional dependency in romantic relations (R2=0,44). The experience of emotional neglect mildly predicted schema of mistrust / abuse (R2=0,16).
 Such results discussed in the context of previous research, limitations that restricted the study’s conclusions and future research recommendation.