Emotion Regulation as a Mediator in the Relationship between Early Maladaptive Schemas and Unresolved Grief: A Meta-Analytic Review

Unresolved grief, often characterized as prolonged grief disorder (PGD), remains a significant clinical challenge. This meta-analytic review investigates the psychological mechanisms underlying the persistence of grief symptoms, specifically focusing on the role of Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMS) and the mediating influence of Emotion Regulation (ER) difficulties. Following a systematic search of Google Scholar and other academic databases for studies published between ۲۰۲۰ and ۲۰۲۵, we synthesized data from ۲۵ independent samples (Total N> ۱۴,۰۰۰). The results indicate a strong positive correlation between EMS and unresolved grief (r = ۰.۵۲). Furthermore, emotion regulation difficulties were found to significantly mediate this relationship, accounting for approximately ۳۸% of the total effect. These findings suggest that individuals with deep-seated maladaptive schemas are more prone to utilizing dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies, which in turn hinders the natural processing of loss. Clinical implications for schema-informed grief therapy are discussed.

کلیدواژه ها:

Early Maladaptive Schemas ، Emotion Regulation ، Unresolved Grief ، Prolonged Grief Disorder ، Meta-analysis