Road traffic accidents can have profound psychological impacts on the individuals involved, encompassing both negative distress and positive growth. This study, guided by the conservation of resources (COR) theory, investigates the intricate relationship between posttraumatic growth (PTG), maladaptive cognitive schemas, and psychological distress in individuals involved in road traffic accidents. PTG reflects an individual’s ability to derive positive changes from adversity, while maladaptive schemas represent negative cognitive patterns. Using a 122 sample of individuals involved in road traffic accidents, we examined direct and indirect effects within this complex network. Our findings reveal significant direct effects of PTG on psychological distress (β = 0.101, p = 0.02). Particularly noteworthy are the indirect effects mediated by cognitive schemas, emphasizing the role of impaired autonomy and perceived performance deficiencies (β = 0.102, p = 0.05). This suggests that individuals involved in road traffic accidents experiencing higher PTG levels may indirectly experience greater psychological distress through these maladaptive cognitive schemas. This study not only advances our understanding of the psychological consequences of road traffic accidents but also aligns with self-determination theory, emphasizing autonomy and competence as fundamental needs. Individuals involved in road traffic accidents may undergo profound shifts in perspective following the trauma, which our results support. Recognizing the nuanced relationship between PTG, maladaptive cognitive schemas, and psychological distress is crucial for tailoring interventions and support systems for individuals involved in traffic accidents. As PTG can coexist with distress, interventions should foster adaptive growth while addressing maladaptive schemas to promote resilience in the face of traumatic events.

This research explores the controversial phenomenon of incestuous behavior in men, emphasizing that such tendencies can reflect a sexual preference rather than being directly caused by borderline or other personality traits or by early maladaptive cognitive schemas. The study involved 48 males with confirmed incestuous tendencies. Nearly half of the participants (49%) exhibited borderline personality traits alongside abandonment maladaptive cognitive schemas, with a median age of 38.17 years (SD ± 9.24) and an average educational level of 13.11 years (SD ± 1.71). Data collection employed the Millon Multiaxial Clinical Inventory-III, the Young Cognitive Schema Questionnaire (YSQ-L3a), and the Paraphilic Disorders Questionnaire (PDQ). Analysis revealed notable correlations between borderline traits and the abandonment cognitive schema, indicating frequent interaction between these factors. However, while borderline traits were associated with incestuous tendencies, no direct link was observed with the abandonment cognitive schema. Factor analysis further showed that neither borderline traits, abandonment schemas, nor their interaction reliably predicted incestuous behavior. These results suggest that male incestuous inclination may stem from atypical sexual interests rather than underlying personality or paraphilic disorders.