Comparaison des schémas précoces inadaptés chez les femmes enceintes et non-enceintes

Psychodynamic theory has long postulated the existence of a change in the psychological adaptation of women during pregnancy. Moreover, those working with pregnant women often note higher levels of sensitivity and some cognitive modifications. Cognitive schemas take into account the individual's cognitive orientation and provide information about their level of psychological adaptation. Despite an abundant literature on cognitive schemas, few studies have investigated the state of the early maladaptive schemas among pregnant woman. The current study seeks to evaluate cognitive schemas during pregnancy as a means to provide a preliminary study on theoretically proposed differences in psychological adaptation in pregnant women. One hundred and eighty-three women, (aged 20 to 40); 92 (57 %) of whom were pregnant completed the French version of the Young schema questionnaire. Analyses showed differences in activation of the schemas, depending on whether the women were pregnant or not. In particular, high demanding, imperfection, abuse/mistrust, and social isolation/alienation were all less activated in the pregnant group. The results confirm differences between the pregnant and non-pregnant samples providing some empirical support for the hypothesis that pregnancy modifies cognitive organization and psychological adaptation.