Contribution of early maladaptive schemes to the risk of addiction to work, cell and shopping in a sample of Colombian professionals

Abstract The present study, using a quantitative, observational and correlational-explanatory approach, aimed to identify how early maladaptive patterns contribute to the risk of presenting work, cell and shopping addiction. The study involved 304 professionals with age of M 37.8 (Dt. 2.8); We used the work addiction scale, the compulsive purchase questionnaire, the short mobile phone dependence test (TDM Brief) and the Young Schema Questionnaire. The results indicated a high risk of work addiction, an average level of cell phone addiction and a low risk of shopping addiction, with women presenting a higher risk of cell phone and shopping addiction, level of income and the software developer profession were associated with increased risk of work addiction; patterns of emotional deprivation and inflexible standards increase the likelihood of risk for work addiction; early maladaptive patterns of abandonment, emotional deprivation, insufficient self-control/self-discipline and entrapment act as risk factors for cell phone addiction; schemes of insufficient self-control/self-discipline and mistrust/abuse increase the risk of shopping addiction, while inflexible standards scheme 1 functions as a protective factor. It concludes the importance of addressing early maladaptive patterns in the prevention and intervention of behavioral addictions, especially in demanding work contexts and considering individual differences by gender, income and profession.