The relationship between early maladaptive schemas and sexual self-esteem in female sex workers

Introduction: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and sexual self-esteem in female sex workers.
Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-correlational study conducted in February 2015, 108 female sex workers residing in Toos women's care center in Mashhad were selected through convenience sampling method. For data collection, Young Early Maladaptive Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF) and Sexual Self-Esteem Inventory for Women-Short Form (SSEI-W-SF) were applied. Data analysis was performed using Pearson's correlation coefficient, stepwise regression and independent t-test by SPSS-22 software.
Results: There was an inverse relationship between the scores of most of the early maladaptive schemas and sexual self-esteem in female sex workers (P<0.05). Three schemas of emotional deprivation, abandonment/instability and mistrust/abuse were significant predictors of sexual self-esteem in female sex workers (P<0.05). Scores of the schemas of social isolation/alienation, defectiveness/shame, failure, insufficient self-control/self-discipline, and unrelenting standards/hypercriticalness in female sex workers who have been living with their parents were lower than the scores of those female sex workers who lived with non-parents (P<0.05). Furthermore, the rate of sexual self-esteem in female sex workers who have been living with parents was higher relative to the female sex workers living with non-parents (P=0.017).
Conclusion: The higher the rate of early maladaptive schemas in female sex workers, the lower the level of their sexual self-esteem will be. Not living with parents in the stages of development has a major role in the formation of early maladaptive schemas and thus reduced sexual self-esteem.