Cross Cultural Comparison Role of Early Maladaptive Schemas and Coping Styles between Women with Depressive Symptoms in Iran and India

The main goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between Early Maladaptive Schemas and Coping Style in Iran and India and to compare mild & moderately depressed, young & older women. The tools of this research were Beck Depression Inventory, Young Schema Questionnaire, Young-Rygh Avoidance Inventory, and Young Compensation Inventory were administered to depressed women residing in Iran and India that were randomly selected n = 200. The age group of sample was 16-60 India (M=30.26 SD=11.45) and Iran (M=31.92 SD=10.08). Data analyses comprised of the methods of descriptive statistics and deductive statistics. Pearson Correlation was obtained between the Subjugation, Failure to achieve, and Unrelenting Standards schemas and compensation subscales in the total group. In addition, the comparison between two countries showed that the correlation between compensation subscales in women from India was higher than women from Iran. In the total group, it was showed a correlation between the Denial Unhappiness, the Psychosomatic Symptom, the Avoidance through sleeping and lack of energy subscales in Avoidance and Maladaptive Schema P < 0.05& P < 0.001). Likewise, the results indicated differences within Iran and India among mild & moderately depressed, young & older women in overcompensation as coping style as opposed to avoidance.