Evaluating the Mediating Role of Early Maladaptive Schemas in the Relationship Between Attachment Styles and Symptoms of Complicated Grief Among Medical Students

Atarodi, Farnoosh; Kamal, Akram Sadat; Khorsandifard, Majid

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Volume 30, Issue 2 (Bimothly 2026)

Feyz Med Sci J 2026, 30(2): 9-9

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Evaluating the Mediating Role of Early Maladaptive Schemas in the Relationship Between Attachment Styles and Symptoms of Complicated Grief Among Medical Students

Farnoosh Atarodi

, Akram Sadat Kamal ^*

, Majid Khorsandifard

Faculty of Medicine, Branch of Birjand, Islamic Azad University, Birjand, Iran , askamal2000@gmail.com

Abstract: (677 Views)

Background and Aim: Complicated Grief is a significant psychological condition that can adversely affect individuals’ emotional, cognitive, and academic functioning. Evidence suggests that attachment styles and early maladaptive schemas play an important role in the development and persistence of these symptoms. The present study aimed to examine the mediating role of early maladaptive schemas in the relationship between attachment styles and symptoms of complicated grief among medical students.
Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 350 medical students from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Participants were selected using convenience sampling. Research instruments included the Adult Attachment Styles Questionnaire, Jeffrey Young Early Maladaptive Schema Questionnaire, and the Complicated Grief Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM).
Results: The secure attachment style was significantly and negatively associated with symptoms of complicated grief (r = -0.42, p < 0.01), whereas insecure attachment styles (avoidant and anxious) showed significant positive associations with symptoms of complicated grief (r = 0.38 and r = 0.45, respectively; p < 0.01). Furthermore, early maladaptive schemas and all their domains demonstrated significant positive correlations with symptoms of complicated grief (r = 0.52 to 0.61, p < 0.01). Structural equation modeling results revealed that early maladaptive schemas played a significant mediating role in the relationship between attachment styles and symptoms of complicated grief. The model fit indices were also reported as satisfactory (CFI = 0.95, RMSEA = 0.06).
Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that early maladaptive schemas may serve as an important psychological mechanism in explaining the relationship between attachment styles and symptoms of complicated grief. These results highlight the importance of addressing early maladaptive schemas in designing preventive and therapeutic interventions aimed at reducing complicated grief symptoms among medical students.

Keywords: Complicated grief, Attachment styles, Early maladaptive schemas, Medical students, Mediation

Type of Study: Research | Subject: General
Received: 2025/11/25 | Revised: 2026/07/1 | Accepted: 2026/01/18 | Published: 2026/03/15

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Atarodi F, Kamal A S, Khorsandifard M. Evaluating the Mediating Role of Early Maladaptive Schemas in the Relationship Between Attachment Styles and Symptoms of Complicated Grief Among Medical Students. Feyz Med Sci J 2026; 30 (2) :9-9
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