Evaluating the Relationship between Maternal Attachment Styles and Children's Separation Anxiety Level: The Mediating Role of Mothers’ Maternal Early Maladaptive Schemas

Abstract

Backgrounds: This study was aimed to evaluate the relationship between maternal attachment style and early maladaptive schemas and the separation anxiety level of children aged 3 to 6 years in the city of Mashhad. Methods: The research sample consisted of 300 mothers with children aged 3 to 6 years who were selected from kindergartens in Mashhad (Iran) by random clustered sampling method. We used Hazan and Shaver’s adult attachment questionnaire, young schemas questionnaire - short form, and the separation anxiety questionnaire (parents’ form) to collect the data. We also used the correlation coefficient and the path analysis model to examine and test the research hypotheses. Data analysis was performed using SPSS-20 and Amos 20 software. Results: The results showed that ambivalent and avoidant attachment styles are mediated by the emotional deprivation, abandonment, dependence, and social isolation schemas and predict separation anxiety. Conclusion: Therefore, among the early maladaptive schemas, emotional deprivation, abandonment, dependence, and social isolation play a mediating role concerning the attachment styles and separation anxiety, which can be used in the design of treatment plans. Keywords: Separation anxiety, Early maladaptive schemas, Attachment styles, Mother