Gender Differences in Early Maladaptive Schemas in a Treatment-Seeking Sample of Alcohol-Dependent Adults

Abstract

The current study examined early maladaptive schemas among alcohol-dependent men and women and sought to determine whether men and women differed in their early maladaptive schemas. Using preexisting patient records of adults diagnosed with alcohol dependence from a residential treatment center in the Southeastern United States, from 2005 to 2010 (N = 854), results showed that women scored significantly higher than men on 14 of the 18 early maladaptive schemas assessed. Both women and men endorsed having a number of early maladaptive schemas, with four schemas being particularly prevalent across gender. Study limitations are noted and implications of these findings for treatment and future research are discussed.

RÉSUMÉ

L'étude actuelle a examiné schémas tôt des mésadaptés parmi les hommes et les femmes dépendants de l'alcool, et a cherché à déterminer si les hommes et les femmes ont différé dans leurs premiers mésadaptés schémas. L'utilisation dossiers patient préexistants d'adultes diagnostiqués avec la dépendance d'alcool d'un centre de traitement résidentiel de 2005 à 2010 (N = 854), les résultats ont montré que les femmes ont marqué de de manière significative plus haut qu'homme sur 14 des 18 schémas tôt mésadaptés ont évalué. Les femmes et les hommes ont endossé avoir un nombre de schémas tôt mésadaptés, avec quatre être de schémas notamment courant à travers le sexe.

RESUMEN

El estudio actual examin´ esquemas desadaptadas tempranas entre alcohol hombres y mujeres dependientes, y procur´ determinar si hombres y mujeres variaron en sus esquemas desadaptadas tempranas. Utilizando que preexiste registros de paciente de adultos diagnosticados con dependencia de alcohol de un centro residencial de tratamiento de 2005 a 2010 (N = 854), los resultados mostraron que mujeres rayaron apreciablemente más alto que hombres en 14 de las 18 esquemas desadaptadas tempranas valoradas. Tanto mujeres como hombres aprobaron tener varias esquemas desadaptadas tempranas, con cuatro esquemas que son especialmente predominantes a través de género. Las implicaciones de estas conclusiones para el tratamiento y futura investigaci´n son discutidas.

Keywords :

• alcohol
• treatment
• early maladaptive schemas
• cognitive therapy

THE AUTHORS

Ryan C. Shorey, M.A., is a doctoral student in clinical psychology at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. His research focuses primarily on intimate partner violence, particularly among dating couples, as well as the influence of substance use on intimate partner violence perpetration.

Scott E. Anderson, Ph.D., is Clinical Director at Cornerstone of Recovery in Louisville, TN. He has worked as a clinician and/or consultant in a variety of settings during his career, including university counseling centers, chemical dependency treatment centers, private practice, and other agencies. He has over 25 years of experience working in the field of addictions. He is particularly interested in merging research and clinical practice.

Gregory L. Stuart, Ph.D., is a Professor of psychology at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. He is an adjunct Professor of psychiatry and human behavior at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Director of Family Violence Research at Butler Hospital. His research has focused on the comorbidity of intimate partner violence and substance abuse. He is particularly interested in interventions that address both substance use and relationship aggression.

Notes

1 The journal's style utilizes the category substance abuse as a diagnostic category. Substances are used or misused; living organisms are and can be abused. Editor's note.

2 Owing to the large correlation table associated with 18 early maladaptive schemas for each gender, and because almost all of the intercorrelations were statistically significant, this table is not presented. The table is available from the first author upon request.