Abstract

The study investigated the dual mediation effect of early maladaptive schemas and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies on the relationship between childhood-adolescence trauma and interpersonal problems of youth in transition to independent living. A survey was conducted with early adults, aged 18 to 34, and data from 201 participants were analyzed. The analysis revealed that early maladaptive schemas and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies each significantly mediated the relationship between childhood-adolescence trauma and interpersonal problems. Furthermore, early maladaptive schemas and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies showed a significant dual mediating effect in this relationship. The findings reflect the need for therapeutic interventions that consider the sequential mediating roles of early maladaptive schemas and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies, which are developed following childhood-adolescence trauma. This study provided the psychological mechanisms underlying the interpersonal problems reported by youth in the transition to independent living and highlighted the necessity of early interventions for the traumas experienced in childhood and adolescence.