Although existing research recognized the associations between early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) of parents and their adult children, the mechanisms that underpin these associations were not fully understood. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to explore the role of defence styles (DSs) on the associations between two EMS domains (Disconnection/Rejection and Impaired Autonomy) of parents and their adult children. Two hundred and fifteen families (i.e., mother, father, and their adult children) participated in the study. Both parents and their adult children were asked to complete Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF) and Defence Style Questionnaire (DSQ) to assess their EMS domains and DSs. According to the results of the current study, there were significant associations between Disconnection/Rejection and Impaired Autonomy EMS domains of parents and their adult children, and these associations were mediated by only immature DS of parents and their adult children in a serial mediation model. These results contributed to our understanding of the associations between EMS domains of parents and their adult children through immature DSs. Moreover, our findings highlighted the importance of synthesizing the concepts of different theories to enhance our understanding of mental representations in families.

中文翻译：

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父母的早期适应不良图式域与其成年子女之间的关联：防御方式的作用

尽管现有研究认识到父母的早期适应不良图式 (EMS) 与其成年子女之间存在关联，但尚未完全了解支持这些关联的机制。因此，本研究的目的是探讨防御方式 (DSs) 在父母及其成年子女的两个 EMS 领域（断开/拒绝和自主能力受损）之间的关联中的作用。215 个家庭（即母亲、父亲和他们的成年子女）参与了这项研究。父母和他们的成年子女都被要求完成 Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF) 和 Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ)，以评估他们的 EMS 领域和 DS。根据目前的研究结果，父母及其成年子女的断开/拒绝和自主性受损 EMS 域之间存在显着关联，并且这些关联仅由父母及其成年子女的不成熟 DS 在一系列中介模型中进行调解。这些结果有助于我们通过不成熟的 DS 理解父母的 EMS 域与其成年子女之间的关联。此外，我们的研究结果强调了综合不同理论的概念以增强我们对家庭心理表征的理解的重要性。这些结果有助于我们通过不成熟的 DS 理解父母的 EMS 域与其成年子女之间的关联。此外，我们的研究结果强调了综合不同理论的概念以增强我们对家庭心理表征的理解的重要性。这些结果有助于我们通过不成熟的 DS 理解父母的 EMS 域与其成年子女之间的关联。此外，我们的研究结果强调了综合不同理论的概念以增强我们对家庭心理表征的理解的重要性。