ESP-3606

Published

2025-04-30

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Vol. 10 No. 4 (2025): Published

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Research Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Amos En Zhe Lian, Shubashini Mathialagan

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How to Cite

Zhe Lian, A. E., & Mathialagan, S. (2025). Evaluating a culturally adapted schema therapy VS Tf-CBT for reducing EMS and schema modes in complex trauma: A Malaysian intervention. Environment and Social Psychology, 10(4), ESP-3606. https://doi.org/10.59429/esp.v10i4.3606

Evaluating a culturally adapted schema therapy VS Tf-CBT for reducing EMS and schema modes in complex trauma: A Malaysian intervention

Amos En Zhe Lian

1 Faculty of Social Sciences, Raffles University, G-05, Medini 7, Jalan Medini Sentral 5, Bandar Medini Iskandar Malaysia, Iskandar Puteri, 79250, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia 2 Kepha Institute, Columbia International University, 7435 Monticello Rd, Columbia, SC 29203, United States

Shubashini Mathialagan

Faculty of Social Sciences, Raffles University, G-05, Medini 7, Jalan Medini Sentral 5, Bandar Medini Iskandar Malaysia, Iskandar Puteri, 79250, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia


DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/esp.v10i4.3606


Keywords: culture; interpersonal trauma; EMS; schema modes; Asia

Abstract

Research indicates that chronic and repeated interpersonal trauma is prevalent in Asia, leading to elevated early maladaptive schemas (EMS) and schema modes, which negatively impact well-being. While trauma-focused interventions are needed to address these, the Western origins of most psychotherapies raise concerns about their direct applicability in the Asian cultural context, marked by emotional reserve and shame associated with familial conflict. To address this, the current study developed a culturally adapted Schema Therapy tailored to the social and environmental realities of Asia. A pilot intervention in Malaysia compared this adapted Schema Therapy with Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Tf-CBT) in reducing EMS and schema modes among individuals with chronic and repeated trauma. Thirty participants were randomly assigned to 16 sessions of either therapy. Quantitative analysis revealed that Schema Therapy demonstrated superior short-term and long-term reductions in both EMS and schema modes compared to Tf-CBT. These findings suggest the potential of Schema Therapy as an effective intervention for trauma-related distress in this population. The culturally adapted approach also proved effective within the Malaysian context by addressing culturally conservative and emotionally reserved tendencies.

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