Early maladaptive schemas and the victimization and perpetration of kinship violence: a systematic review and meta-analysis

First published: February 1, 2021 https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2558

Commentary

The early maladaptive schema of youth represents a possible pathway between childhood adversity and interproximal violence (IPV).

The aim of this study was to synthesize the evidence on early maladaptive schemas and IPV.

We identified peer-reviewed studies in PubMed, PsycInfo, and CINAHL databases that were searched in accordance with PRISMA and reported on the relationship between schema or schema domain scores and IPV victimization or execution.

A meta-analysis based on nine studies showed that IPV harm showed moderate associations with the domains of disconnection and denial and autonomy impairment, and small associations with other orientations.

The schemas of distrust abuse and vulnerability to harm were moderately correlated with harm, and distrust abuse was also related to perpetration, but there was insufficient data available for meta-analysis.

These lines of evidence suggest that being a victim of IPV is associated with expectations that one's needs for love and safety will not be met, and with questions about one's ability to handle responsibilities and succeed in life.