Maladaptive Schemas in Social Anxiety

The purpose of the study is to determine relationship between Social Anxiety and Young’s Maladaptive Schemas. Specifically, to examine connection between 18 Early Maladaptive Schemas (5 Domains) and the degree of Social Anxiety, to identify which maladaptive schemas are strongly associated with high degree of Social Anxiety. The results of the study showed that an increased degree of Social Anxiety is correlated with the Negativity/Pessimism Schema and the Overivgilance/Inhibition Domain. Respondents with higher degree of Social Anxiety showed higher levels of Early Maladaptive Schemas. Through The Social Anxiety Scale, we identified types of Social Situations and interactions that are strongly associated with high levels of Social Anxiety. Research showed that Social Situations related to formal interactions: Public Speaking/Selfpresentation in front of an audience) were the most anxiety-inducing Social Triggers among the respondents. The results of the study create a perspective for interpretations based on specific cognitive patterns associated with Social Anxiety.