The mediating role of early maladaptive schemas in the relationship between perceived parental attitudes and cognitive flexibility in adolescents

Perceived parenting attitudes may be associated with adolescents’ cognitive flexibility through early maladaptive schemas. This cross-sectional correlational study examined the statistical mediating role of schema domains in associations of perceived negative maternal and paternal attitudes with cognitive flexibility. 643 high school students aged 12–18 years completed the Young Parenting Scale, Young Schema Questionnaire–Short Form 3, and Cognitive Flexibility Inventory. Separate parallel multiple mediation models (PROCESS Model 4; 5,000 bootstrap resamples) adjusted for age and gender. In the maternal model, the total association was negative (c = −0.049) and the total indirect effect was significant (ab = −0.066, 95% CI [−0.088, −0.045]), while the direct association was nonsignificant (c′ = 0.017). In the paternal model, the total association (c = −0.027) and total indirect effect (ab = −0.068, 95% CI [−0.088, −0.048]) were negative, but the direct association was positive (c′ = 0.041, p = .006). These opposing coefficients are consistent with inconsistent mediation or statistical suppression rather than straightforward partial mediation. In both models, disconnection and impaired autonomy/performance showed negative indirect associations, while impaired limits and overvigilance/unrelenting standards showed positive indirect associations. Other-directedness was not a significant mediator. These findings highlight the role of early maladaptive schemas in the relationship between perceived parental attitudes and cognitive flexibility among adolescents, while revealing distinct patterns of association for maternal and paternal attitudes.