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Cited by 9Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesMental Health Research TopicsPsychological Treatments and Assessments

Measuring Early Maladaptive Schemas in Daily Life

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Baxendell, Robbert S., Schmitter, Michèle, Spijker, Jan, Keijsers, Ger P. J., Tendolkar, Indira, Vrijsen, Janna N.·2025·Cognitive Therapy and Research
DOI 10.1007/s10608-025-10574-5
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Abstract

Background: The theoretical models of Beck and Young predict that Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMSs) are linked to the development and maintenance of mental health problems including depression. The stability of EMSs in daily life are ill-understood despite being a fundamental aspect of cognitive theories. In the current study, we aimed to improve the understanding of EMSs by repeatedly assessing them in daily life under changing contextual triggers and examining the theoretically-grounded associations with mood and rumination. Methods: Using factor analysis, we developed a 16-item Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) version of the Dutch Young Schema Questionnaire short form (Klynstra et al., 2008). EMSs were assessed six times a day for five days in 90 unselected participants (71% female, M age = 25.52). Results: The new EMA-based EMSs questionnaire captured EMSs fluctuations, with 51% of the variance attributed to within-person variations. We assessed the contemporaneous within-person associations between schema activation and negative affect and rumination as well as the impact of a triggering event on schema activation. Stronger EMSs activation was associated with more negative mood and rumination, as well as the occurrence of a recent triggering event. Conclusions: The findings align with the cognitive models of Beck and Young extending them with daily life data. The results indicate that EMSs have both state and trait-like characteristics, and fluctuations in daily life can be assessed.

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  • A recent ecological momentary assessment study showed that activation of early maladaptive schemas can fluctuate substantially within a single day, depending on situational triggers and emotional states.

    “A recent ecological momentary assessment study further highlights the promise of digital intervention by showing that the activation of these patterns can fluctuate substantially within a single day, depending on situational triggers and emotional states [15].”

    From Schema-Informed Digital Mental Health Intervention for Maladaptive Cognitive-Emotional Patterns: Randomized Controlled Trial (2025) · cites this paper as [15]

    The Abstract reports that EMA captured within-person fluctuations in schema activation across six assessments per day, and the Discussion reports a strong association with momentary negative mood. But the Discussion says recent triggering events were not significantly associated with activation in the model accounting for prior activation; an association appeared only in alternative analyses. The claim therefore overstates the evidence that fluctuations depend on situational triggers. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • When considered alongside predictive coding theory, the ecological momentary assessment findings suggest that the high accessibility and frequency of digital interventions could provide users with more opportunities to encounter schema-disconfirming experiences in everyday contexts.

    “When these findings are considered alongside predictive coding theory, they suggest that the high accessibility and frequency of digital interventions could provide users with more opportunities to encounter schema-disconfirming experiences in everyday contexts.”

    From Schema-Informed Digital Mental Health Intervention for Maladaptive Cognitive-Emotional Patterns: Randomized Controlled Trial (2025) · cites this paper as [15]

    The Results and Discussion (page unavailable) report that early maladaptive schemas fluctuate in daily life, and the Discussion suggests that just-in-time interventions could help at critical moments. The paper does not address predictive coding or show that digital interventions’ accessibility and frequency create more opportunities for schema-disconfirming experiences; that is the citing authors’ extrapolation. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Authors
Baxendell, R. S., Schmitter, M., Spijker, J., Keijsers, G. P. J., Tendolkar, I., & Vrijsen, J. N.
Affiliations
Radboud University Nijmegen (NL)
Corresponding author
Baxendell, Robbert S.
ORCID
Venue
Cognitive Therapy and Research
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2025-02-05
Volume
49
Issue
4
Pages
863-872
ISSN
  • 0147-5916 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-2819
DOI
10.1007/s10608-025-10574-5
OpenAlex
W4407151309
Cited by
8
References
50
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 2
FWCI
8.41
Type
journal article
Language
en
Update notices
correction (2026-05-30)
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Cognitive Therapy and Research (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Mental Health Research Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Assessments
Keywords
early maladaptive schemas, schema activation, within-person variability, ecological momentary assessment, negative mood, rumination, triggering events, Young Schema Questionnaire, cognitive models of depression

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