The Relationship Between Personality Characteristics and Early Maladaptive Schema With Suicide Ideation in Iranian Late Adolescents

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate prediction of suicide ideation based on early maladaptive schemas and the Big-Five personality traits in a sample of Iranian late adolescents.&nbsp; Methods: 315 high school students (160 female, 155 male) were recruited by multi-stage cluster sampling method from Shiraz city. Participants completed NEO Five-Factor Inventory, Schema Questionnaire, and Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation. Data were analyzed using hierarchical regression analysis. Results: showed that early maladaptive schema significantly predicted suicide ideation beyond personality traits and demographic variables (∆R2=0.02, P<0.01). Additionally, among early maladaptive schema domains, disconnection and rejection (&beta;=0.25, P=0.003), in a positive way, and over-vigilance and inhibition (&beta;=-0.17, P=0.011) domains, in a negative way, predicted suicide ideation beyond personality traits and demographic variables.&nbsp; Conclusion: The study showed that schema therapy approach can address particular domains of early maladaptive schemas (disconnection and rejection) for preventing or treating suicide ideation in adolescents regardless of their personality traits and demographic variables. Additionally, the relationship between early maladaptive schema on the one hand, and the NEO Five-Factor model and the basic and clinical application schema therapy, on the other hand, is discussed in detail.