The Role of Early Maladaptive Schemas and Personality Traits inSocial Anxiety

Objective: Social anxiety disorder, as the third most common psychological disorder, affects the lives of different people, especially students; Therefore, it is very important to know the factors that cause it. In this regard, the present study investigated the role of early maladaptive schemas and personality traits in predicting students' social anxiety.Method: The statistical population of this research included Students of WKe University of Sistan and Baluchestan who were studying in ۲۰۲۲. Two hundred college students were used as a sample with Convenience Sampling. After selecting and confirming the subject of study, essential information was provided to the samples. Then after Informed consent, the online research tools were given to them. Demographics Screening Form, Social Phobia Inventory, NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-FFI) and Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF) were used to collect data. Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple regression by the Stepwise method were used to analyze the data.Results: The findings show that the trait of neuroticism has a significant positive relationship with social anxiety (P<۰.۰۱); On the other hand, traits of extroversion, openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness have a negative and significant relationship with social anxiety (P<۰.۰۱). This relationship is significant for all schemas (P<۰.۰۱) except Mistrust/Abuse, Social Isolation, Defectiveness/Shame, Self-Sacrifice and Insufficient Self-Control (P>۰.۰۵).Conclusion: This research showed that initial maladaptive schemas and personality traits play a role in predicting students' social anxiety. The system of beliefs guides the behavior utilizing the initially incompatible schemas on the one hand, and the personality traits, on the other hand, stabilize the person to stay in a situation, which will fuel the emergence and persistence of anxiety.

Keywords:

Early Maladaptive Schemas , Personality Traits , Social Anxiety