Role of attachment and early maladaptive schemas in the impulsive behaviour of adolescents

Abstract

Introduction/objective: Few studies address the relationship between attachment and impulsiveness in adolescence. Therefore, the objectives of this study have been to study the relationship between attachment, early maladaptive schemas, and impulsiveness, as well as to verify the predictive role of the first two on impulsiveness. Lastly, the mediating role of early maladaptive schemas in the relationship between attachment and impulsiveness is studied. Method: The sample is 1533 adolescents from Ecuador (826 men and 707 women), between 14 and 18 years of age (M = 15.76, SD = 1.25). The following questionnaires were used to measure the study variables: CaMir-R, YSQ-S3, BIS 11. Results: The results reflect how safety, the value of parental authority, parental permissiveness, self-sufficiency and resentment against parents, childhood trauma and the negative/pessimistic schema predict impulsive behaviour. The mediating role of early maladaptive schemas is also confirmed. Conclusions: Knowledge of the role of early maladaptive schemas and attachment styles as risk or vulnerability factors involved in the establishment of impulsive behaviour is very useful in order to implement preventive strategies and an appropriate therapeutic approach.