Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In response to increased focus on schemas within cognitive therapy and specifically in the treatment of personality disorders, Young developed an instrument to measure early maladaptive schemas, the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ). The statistical properties of this measure have been investigated, and due to its length, a shortened version was developed (the YSQ-S). In the present study the factor structure of the YSQ-S was investigated in a group of South African undergraduate psychology students (N = 300). In contrast with the findings of the studies done on the YSQ, 14 of Young's 15 schemas were identified as factors in the YSQ-S, corresponding largely with the theoretically underlying structure. A higher order factor analysis solution was also found to resemble the structure proposed by Young. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die groter fokus op skemas binne die kognitiewe terapie, veral met betrekking tot die behandeling van persoonlikheidsversteurings, het daartoe gelei dat Young 'n meetmiddel, naamlik die Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ), ontwikkel het om vroeë wanaangepaste skemas ("early maladaptive schemas") te meet. Die statistiese eienskappe van hierdie meetmiddel is reeds nagevors, en as gevolg van die lengte van hierdie meetmiddel, is 'n verkorte weergawe daarvan ontwikkel (YSQ-S). In die huidige studie is die faktoriale struktuur van die YSQ-S by 'n groep Suid Afrikaanse voorgraadse sielkunde studente (N = 300) ondersoek. In teenstelling met die bevindings van vroeëre studies op die YSQ, is 14 van die 15 van Young se skemas as faktore by die YSQ-S geïdentifiseer, wat grootliks ooreengestem het met die teoreties gekonseptualiseerde onderligende struktuur. Die oplossing van 'n hoër-ordefaktorontleding het ook ooreengestem met die struktuur wat deur Young voorgestel is.

Schema therapy is a leading contemporary approach to treating mental illness. The therapy integrally uses self-report measures of negative schemas (“long lasting patterns of emotions, cognitions and memories”), and the negative parenting patterns that are linked to the development of these schemas. However, the negative parenting measures are insufficient, and there are no corresponding measures of positive schemas or positive parenting patterns. Study 1 focused on the development of a measure for positive schemas, the Young Positive Schema Questionnaire (YPSQ). Study 2 focused on the development of a measure for positive parenting patterns, the Positive Parenting Schema Inventory (PPSI). Finally, Study 3 empirically showed that the subscales of the Young Parenting Inventory (YPI) were not robust, and it provided a revised alternative (YPI-R2). For all three studies combined, community samples (n = 204 to 628) were collected from five countries in Asia (India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines) as well as the United States. The factor structure of the three instruments (the YPSQ, PPSI and YPI-R2) was stable in both Eastern and Western samples (in multigroup confirmatory factor analysis). All three scales showed prediction of mental health over and above what was possible with previous measures (incremental validity). The scales were not simply proxies for previously measured constructs (divergent validity). These scales also demonstrated significant associations with other established measures of parenting (construct validity). They also showed associations with negative schemas, well-being and ill-being (convergent validity). This thesis provides the tools needed to include a focus on positive as well as negative schemas and parenting patterns in both research and clinical practice. It also shows the benefits of so doing.