Modeling the Relationship Between Early Maladaptive Schemas, Coping Styles, and Marital Intimacy with the Mediating Role of Emotional Self-Disclosure
Keywords:
Early maladaptive schemas, Coping styles, Marital intimacy, Emotional self-disclosure, Couples, Qualitative research, TehranAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to qualitatively explain the relationship between early maladaptive schemas, coping styles, and marital intimacy, emphasizing the mediating role of emotional self-disclosure among married individuals in Tehran.
Methods and Materials: This qualitative study was conducted using thematic analysis. Participants consisted of 22 married individuals living in Tehran who were selected through purposive sampling with maximum variation in gender, age, marriage duration, and marital conflict experience. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and sampling continued until theoretical saturation was reached. Interviews were audio-recorded after obtaining informed consent, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using NVivo software. To enhance trustworthiness, member checking, peer debriefing, analytic memo writing, constant comparison, and audit trail strategies were applied. The analytic process included familiarization with the data, initial coding, theme development, theme review, naming of categories, and conceptual model construction.
Findings: Four main categories emerged from the data: “activation of vulnerability-based schemas in intimate situations,” “maladaptive coping styles in marital conflict,” “emotional self-disclosure as a mediating pathway to safety and closeness,” and “reconstruction or erosion of marital intimacy.” The findings indicated that schemas such as abandonment, emotional deprivation, mistrust/abuse, defectiveness/shame, and subjugation shaped participants’ interpretations of their spouses’ behaviors. Avoidant, surrendering, and overcompensatory coping styles were associated with emotional concealment, defensive communication, withdrawal, blame, and reduced emotional responsiveness. Conversely, gradual, safe, and responsive emotional self-disclosure facilitated trust, validation, mutual understanding, and emotional closeness.
Conclusion: The results suggest that emotional self-disclosure functions as a key mediating mechanism between deep cognitive-emotional schemas and the quality of marital intimacy. Couple therapy interventions should therefore focus not only on identifying maladaptive schemas and coping styles but also on strengthening safe emotional expression, empathic listening, and responsive partner communication.
Downloads
References
Altman, I., & Taylor, D. A. (1973). Social penetration: The development of interpersonal relationships. Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
Bach, B., Simonsen, E., Christoffersen, P., & Kriston, L. (2017). The Young Schema Questionnaire 3 Short Form (YSQ-S3): Psychometric properties and association with personality disorders in a Danish mixed sample. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 33(2), 134–143. https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759/a000272
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Carver, C. S., Scheier, M. F., & Weintraub, J. K. (1989). Assessing coping strategies: A theoretically based approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 56(2), 267–283. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.56.2.267
Charmaz, K. (2014). Constructing grounded theory (2nd ed.). SAGE.
Collins, N. L., & Miller, L. C. (1994). Self-disclosure and liking: A meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin, 116(3), 457–475. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.116.3.457
Cordova, J. V., Gee, C. B., & Warren, L. Z. (2005). Emotional skillfulness in marriage: Intimacy as a mediator of the relationship between emotional skillfulness and marital satisfaction. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 24(2), 218–235. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.24.2.218.62270
Gross, J. J., & John, O. P. (2003). Individual differences in two emotion regulation processes: Implications for affect, relationships, and well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85(2), 348–362. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.85.2.348
Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. R. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(3), 511–524. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.52.3.511
Hsieh, H. F., & Shannon, S. E. (2005). Three approaches to qualitative content analysis. Qualitative Health Research, 15(9), 1277–1288. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732305276687
Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. Springer Publishing Company.
Laurenceau, J. P., Barrett, L. F., & Pietromonaco, P. R. (1998). Intimacy as an interpersonal process: The importance of self-disclosure, partner disclosure, and perceived partner responsiveness in interpersonal exchanges. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74(5), 1238–1251. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.74.5.1238
Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. SAGE.
Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R. (2007). Attachment in adulthood: Structure, dynamics, and change. Guilford Press.
Prager, K. J. (1997). The psychology of intimacy. Guilford Press.
Prager, K. J., & Buhrmester, D. (1998). Intimacy and need fulfillment in couple relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 15(4), 435–469. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407598154001
Reis, H. T., & Shaver, P. R. (1988). Intimacy as an interpersonal process. In S. Duck, D. Hay, S. E. Hobfoll, W. Ickes, & B. M. Montgomery (Eds.), Handbook of personal relationships: Theory, research and interventions (pp. 367–389). Wiley.
Schmidt, N. B., Joiner, T. E., Young, J. E., & Telch, M. J. (1995). The schema questionnaire: Investigation of psychometric properties and the hierarchical structure of a measure of maladaptive schemas. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 19, 295–321. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02230402
Traa, M. J., De Vries, J., Bodenmann, G., & Den Oudsten, B. L. (2015). Dyadic coping and relationship functioning in couples coping with cancer: A systematic review. British Journal of Health Psychology, 20(1), 85–114. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12094
Waring, E. M. (1983). Marital intimacy and self-disclosure. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 39(2), 183–190. https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-4679(198303)39:2<183::AID-JCLP2270390207>3.0.CO;2-L
Waring, E. M., & Reddon, J. R. (1983). The measurement of intimacy in marriage: The Waring Intimacy Questionnaire. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 39(1), 53–57. https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-4679(198301)39:1<53::AID-JCLP2270390110>3.0.CO;2-0
Young, J. E., Klosko, J. S., & Weishaar, M. E. (2003). Schema therapy: A practitioner’s guide. Guilford Pres
