The study contributes to the understanding of the relation between neuroticism, early maladaptive schemas and negative emotionality. Various studies of schemas and neuroticism with the connection of negative emotionality do not give an answer to the question how these three variables co-exist with each other. The main purpose of the research was whether neuroticism strengthens the effect of schemas in the prediction of intensity of anxiety and depression, or whether the role of these variables is independent of each other.

493 healthy participants were included in the study, where 66% were female respondents aged between 16-61 years of age (M= 31, SD=11.96). The Young Schema Questionnaire Short Form Version (YSQ-S3), The Revised Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R) by Costa and McCrae and The Personality Inventory (SPI, TPI by Spielberger & Reheiser) were used.

The results show a strong relationship between Rejection and Disconnection schemas and negative emotionality, strongly mediated by neuroticism. The trigger for the trait of neuroticism is the intensification of depressive traits, understood as a set of emotional symptoms, i.e. a high level of anxiety, experiencing frequent anger towards oneself, and simultaneously a strong sense of guilt for negative thoughts resulting in a sense of hopelessness.

Most of the problems leading to anxiety or depression symptoms originate in schemas of Rejection and Disconnection and neuroticism is a strong mediator for negative emotionality.