IMPACT OF SCHEMA MODES ON DYSFUNCTIONAL AND ADAPTIVE ATTITUDES AMONG YOUNG ADULTS

Abstract

The contribution of schema modes towards the development of attitudes along with the long-term stability of modes and attitudes remains an unaddressed question. The present research study has focused on this concern. The study was aimed to address the impact of schema modes on dysfunctional and adaptive attitudes among young adults. More specifically, the study has also been undertaken to address the association and demographic correlates of modes and attitudes across time. The current accelerated longitudinal research was based on cross-sequential design. The multi-wave longitudinal assessment of schema modes (SMs) and attitudes (Dysfunctional and Adaptive attitudes) over three successive time points were examined among young adults of Pakistan. Self-report instruments i.e., The Schema Mode Inventory (SMI-Urdu; Riaz, Khalily, & Iqbal, 2013), and Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS; Weissman & Beck, 1978) along with demographic sheet was used to measure study variables. The present research was comprising up of three distinct studies. Each study was further divided into evident phases and steps. In study 1, after the finalization, translation (phase I), and validation (phase II) of measures, the pilot testing was performed (phase III). The pilot testing aimed to see the psychometric properties of instruments, trends, and directions of relationships among the study variables. Afterward, in study 2, the hypothesis testing was performed to see the cross-sectional association among the study variables. Followed by this study 3 was executed into three successive phases, and the data was collected at three discrete time points, (i.e., T1 [Time 1], T2, and T3) four months apart (equally spaced time interval). Apparently, study 2, was conducted to address the cross-sectional and, study 3 to see the longitudinal pattern of the variables. Initially, data of 691 [men (n= 345) and women (n= 346)] individuals was collected to address the objectives of study 2. This data was taken from the five main cities of Pakistan i.e., ICT (Islamabad Capital Territory), two districts of Punjab (Rawalpindi and Wah Cantt.), and two districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Abbottabad and Mansehra). Accordingly, in study 3 for the first time point of the study [T1], data of 300 (181 male & 119 female), for a second (N=234; 149 male & 85 female) and third time point (N=202; 104 male & 98 female) of the study was taken from the same districts. xvii Overall, 177 (98 male & 79 female) individuals participated in all three-time points of data collection of study 3. Moreover, findings of study 2 depict that there is an impact of schema modes on dysfunctional and adaptive attitudes among young adults for both 4 factors, and 14 factors schema mode model. At the same time, gender, marital status, and self reported socioeconomic status have significantly moderated this association in certain modes and attitudes. Similarly, marital status has a significant impact on the detached self-soother, and demanding parent modes of young adults, where single youngsters have a higher level of detached self-soother, and demanding parent modes as compared to the married young adults. In alliance, participants from middle socioeconomic status have a lower level of complaint surrender mode as compare to being from the high socioeconomic status. Apparently, significant gender differences exist for the presence of complaint surrender, detached self-soother, and self aggrandizer, and demanding parent modes, where men have a higher level than the women participants, whereas women were having a high level of dysfunctional attitudes. Afterward, study 3 i.e., longitudinal patterns were executed. Given that, for the first time point of the study (phase I), results demonstrated the correlational analysis, gender differences, and cross-sectional model testing. Thus, a significant relationship exists between all the study variables at the time point 01. Subsequently, gender differences indicated that women had a high level of undisciplined child mode and dysfunctional attitudes, while men had a higher level on complaint surrender, detached self-soother, self-aggrandizer, demanding parent, happy child, and healthy adult modes as compared to the women. Finally, model testing confirms that there is an impact of schema modes on dysfunctional and adaptive attitudes among young adults at time point one. The second time point of the study (phase Ⅱ) was conducted to see the pattern of change across time (i.e., T1 and T2). Paired sample t-test was computed to see the difference of schema modes, dysfunctional and adaptive attitudes over T1 and T2. Thus, significant differences exist for enraged child mode and dysfunctional attitude from T1 to T2. The same pattern of decline was seen among both genders at T2. In alliance with the findings of time point one, the study variables are significantly associated with each other at time point two. Above all, modes at T1 xviii are predicting the dysfunctional, and adaptive attitude at T2. In the third time point (phase Ⅲ), paired sample t-test was computed to see the difference of schema modes, dysfunctional and adaptive attitudes over T1 and T3. Accordingly, the enraged child, impulsive child, undisciplined child, and happy child increases from the T1 to T3 for the current group of young adults (N=202). Accordingly, the punitive parent, demanding parent modes, and dysfunctional attitudes decline over time. Significant gender differences occurred for the enraged child, bully & attack, self-aggrandizer, and punishing parent modes, where men scored significantly higher than women. Similarly, young women have a high level of dysfunctional attitudes in comparison to young men. To see the impact of schema modes on dysfunctional and adaptive attitudes both the cross-sectional paths and longitudinal paths were analyzed. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal paths showed that there was an impact of dysfunctional schema modes on dysfunctional attitudes, and functional modes on adaptive attitudes at T3, as well as from T1 to T3. Afterward, by using the methodology of panel analysis 177 individuals who participated in all waves of the study are carefully chosen for scrutiny of T1, T2, and T3. Thus, to see the stability and change across three-time points, both individual and interlinked Growth Curve Model Testing was performed to support the findings of repeated measure ANOVA and Inter Period Correlation coefficient (IPC). Results demonstrated a significant decline in the scores of an enraged child, impulsive child, undisciplined child, punitive parent, and demanding parent modes, while all the dysfunctional coping modes remained static over T1, T2, and T3. Further, functional modes (i.e., happy child and healthy adult) at first declines from T1 to T2, and then increase back from T2 to T3. However, there were non-significant differences in T1 and T3 on these variables. Above all, fitting of unconditional growth models indicated that variation in SMs and attitudes features existed across successive time points. Thus, the findings of the growth curve modeling indicated that the distinct pattern of independent growth was present for the vulnerable child mode, enraged child mode, happy child mode, angry child mode, complaint surrender mode, self-aggrandizer mode, detached self soother mode, and punishing parent modes. Conclusively, present research findings showed that modes changes across different time points, and these changes can be quite substantial and consequential. Subsequently, cross-lagged analysis established xix interlinked growth patterns were being identified for the angry child, and enraged child modes, angry child, enraged child, and bully and attack modes, happy child, and healthy adult modes, vulnerable child, and dysfunctional parent modes, vulnerable child, and punitive parent modes, as well as the happy child, healthy adult modes, and adaptive attitudes. In general, these findings illustrate that there is an impact of schema modes on dysfunctional and adaptive attitudes among young adults both at cross-sectional and longitudinal levels. In addition to this, a hybrid pattern of schema modes development during young adulthood, including both state like (i.e., changing over time) and trait like (i.e., stable and resistant to change) aspects was found which is an enduring addition to the existing literature. Accordingly, findings of current research advances the knowledge in understanding that the schema modes could have an impact on dysfunctional and adaptive attitudes among young adults. Moreover, it has enhanced the understanding of the need for early detection and intervention plans in response to the existence of dysfunctional schema modes and their impact on attitudes. Study limitation includes the utilization of self-report measures, which were often subject to recall and social desirability biases. In the end conceptual issues, theoretical considerations, methodological recommendations for future research, and the implication of these findings for policy, research, and clinical practice are discussed