Thinking about feeling: Using trait emotional intelligence in understanding the associations between early maladaptive schemas and coping styles

Abstract

Objectives Maladaptive interpersonal schemas can trigger distressing emotions and drive dysfunctional behaviour that leads to difficulties in interpersonal relationships and perpetuates the original maladaptive schemas. This study sought to identify patterns of association between trait emotional intelligence (TEI), early maladaptive schemas (EMS), and coping styles in a non‐clinical sample. Emotionality profiles were hypothesized to be associated with EMS severity and poorer coping, as early experiences can shape an individual's self‐perceptions through reinforcement by maladaptive responses. Design Cross‐sectional study with 142 undergraduate students. Methods We obtained self‐reports of TEI, coping styles, and EMS. Results Disengagement coping was strongly correlated with EMS severity (r = .565, p < .01). TEI was negatively correlated with EMS (r = −.660, p < .01) and Disengagement (r = −.405, p < .01). Emotionality, Impaired Autonomy, and Overvigilance partially mediated the relationship between Disconnection and Emotion‐Focused Disengagement. Self‐Control fully mediated the relationship between Impaired Limits and Problem‐Focused Disengagement. Conclusions The findings suggest that lower TEI is associated with the likelihood for maladaptive coping in response to EMS. The preference for certain coping styles associated with a particular domain of EMS may be explained by an individual's perceived metacognitive ability to regulate their stress and emotions. When individuals’ needs for love, safety, and acceptance from others are not met, there might be poorer perceived self‐efficacies in Emotionality and the tendency to cope through emotional avoidance. Individuals with difficulties establishing internal limits are more likely to respond with problem avoidance, possibly due to deficient distress tolerance. Longitudinal studies with a clinical population are warranted to replicate these findings. Practitioner points Clinicians will likely find it helpful to consider their clients’ TEI to facilitate more individualized formulation and treatment planning, by considering whether related emotional regulation problems might be innate or a deficit in skills Implies the need to do more basic emotional regulation work to supplement and strengthen the established imagery work in schema therapy (ST).

A trait emotional intelligence perspective on schema modes

“…They extend previously found relations between modes and temperamental traits (Lobbestael et al, 2010) and Big-Five trait factors (Jacobs et al, 2020). They also add to prior evidence that low global TEI is a common feature of personality pathology (e.g., Ke & Barlas, 2020;Krajniak et al, 2018;Martskvishvili & Mestvirishvili, 2014;Petrides, P erez-Gonz alez, et al, 2007;Sinclair & Feigenbaum, 2012). Criterion A of DSM-5's AMPD (APA, 2013) defines personality malfunction in terms of impaired self-functioning and interpersonal functioning.…”

“…Schemas can thus be regarded as characteristic adaptations to personality traits (cf. McAdams & Pals, 2006), which is consistent with conceptually coherent correlations between TEI and schema scores (Ke & Barlas, 2020) and irrational emotional beliefs (Petrides, G omez & P erez-Gonz alez, 2017). The general manifestation frequency of modes may thus reflect characteristic adaptations to traits as well.…”

Personality, trait EI and coping with COVID 19 measures

“…In a study directed by Lazarus and Folkman [ 11 ]; Pelletier [ 63 ] observed that family members of organ donors felt several different emotions and utilized different coping strategies. Ke and Barlas [ 64 ] investigated the relationship between trait emotional intelligence, early maladaptive schemas, and coping styles and they observed that lower levels of trait emotional intelligence were linked with a higher possibility for maladaptive coping in response to early maladaptive schemas. Consistent with the above discussion, the following hypothesis is offered: EI is significantly related to coping strategies, and each EI dimension (self-emotion appraisal, other-emotion appraisal, regulation of emotion, use of emotion) has a different effect on coping strategies.…”

Trait Emotional Intelligence and School Burnout: The Mediating Role of Resilience and Academic Anxiety in High School

“…Additionally, a low level of TEI is significantly associated with anxiety, anger, disruptive behaviors, and with both internalizing and externalizing symptoms [16]. In contrast, Mavroveli and colleagues [17] have found that adolescents with a high level of TEI are generally less predisposed to developing depressive or somatic symptoms, and are more likely to successfully cope with difficult events [18]. Moreover, previous research has found that people with high TEI show a positive attitude towards stressful events, namely resilience [19][20][21][22].…”