reflective functioning

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a common endocrine disease in children that can have significant physical and psychological consequences for the individual and their family. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of Mentalization-Based Treatment for Children (MBT-C) on reflective function and emotional awareness in children with T1D.

Methods and Materials:

 In this quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design with two experimental and control groups, and a two-month follow-up period, children with T1D who referred to the pediatric endocrinology clinic were included. The study participants were randomly divided into two groups: experimental and control. The experimental group received MBT-C in ten 60-minute sessions, as well as 30-minute weekly sessions with their mothers. The control group received no intervention during this period and was on the waiting list. In the pretest stage, both groups completed the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire and the Emotional Awareness Questionnaire. After the treatment sessions, both groups completed the questionnaires in the posttest and follow-up stages, and the results were compared.

In this study, 30 children with T1D were evaluated in the experimental and control groups. The results of repeated-measures ANOVA showed that mentalization treatment for children had a significant effect on improving reflective functioning and emotional awareness in 8-12-year-old children with T1D, and the treatment effects were maintained in the follow-up stage p<0.001.

The results of this study indicate the effectiveness of MBT-C in improving reflective functioning and emotional awareness in children with T1D. These positive effects were also stabilized after the completion of the treatment. MBT-C helps children develop self-awareness and self-regulation, enabling them to better identify and manage their emotions. This highlights the importance and application of MBT-C in the effective management of chronic childhood diseases such as T1D.

The mother's parenting stress can lead to children's behavioral problems, and among these, variables related to the parent-child relationship can be a moderator. The present study aimed to determine the moderating role of the components of maternal reflective functioning in the relationship between the mother's parenting stress and the child's behavioral problems.

The current research is descriptive. Based on the convenience sampling method, 200 mothers who visited the children's clinics in Tehran in 2023 were selected and completed questionnaires of Parental Reflective Functioning, Parental Stress, and Child Behavior Checklist. Data analysis was performed using correlation tests and hierarchical regression.

 There was significant a positive relationship between mother's parental stress and pre-mentalizing (r=0.31, p<0.001) and certainty of mental states (r=0.32, p<0.001), and a significant negative relationship between mother's parental stress and interest and curiosity in mental states (r=-0.34, p<0.001). Moreover, there was a significant positive relationship between parental stress and child's behavioral problems (r=0.47, p<0.001), and child's behavioral problems and pre-mentalizing (r=0.26, p<0.001) and certainty of mental states (r=0.30, p<0.001), and there was a significant negative relationship between parental stress and interest and curiosity in mental states (r=-0.28, p<0.001). The moderating role of pre-mentalizing components (p=0.041) and certainty in recognizing mental states (p=0.035) in the relationship between parental stress and the child's behavioral problems was also confirmed.

The mother's low reflective functioning and parental stress can increase the probability of behavioral problems in children. Parental stress in mothers who have lower reflective functioning has a more negative effect on children's behavioral problems. Therefore, it is recommended to pay attention to teaching reflective functioning to mothers.

The aim of the present study was the effectiveness of narrative therapy on meta emotion and reflective functioning among adolescent girls in Isfahan city.
The research method was semi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group with a 2-month follow-up phase. The statistical population included all adolescent girls aged in Isfahan city. 40 people were selected by available sampling and replaced in two experimental and control groups by a simple random method. The research tools were Fonagy's Reflective Functioning questionnaire (2016) and Mitmansgruber's meta-emotion questionnaire (2009). The experimental group gave 8 sessions of 90-minute narrative therapy intervention based on De Manck's (1941) protocol and the control group was on the waiting list. The data were analyzed using SPSS-23 software and at two descriptive (mean and standard deviation) and inferential (variance analysis with repeated measurements) levels (P<0.001).
The mean and standard deviation for the post-test stage of positive meta-emotion were 25.95±3.92 and 19.55±2.9, negative meta-emotion 7.15±2.60 and 13/10±2/91, and reflective functioning in the post-test stage 66±7.23 and 39.16±5.63 in the control group. That the findings showed that mean positive meta-emotion and reflective functioning to the control group had increased significantly and mean negative meta-emotion to the control group had increased decreases (P<0.001).
Based on this, it can be concluded that the narrative therapy method improves the mental health of adolescent girls and improves their cognitive and emotional components.

Children usually do not have a clear understanding of their parents' divorce; Sometimes they feel responsible for their parents ' divorce and do not hope to have a better life after their parents' divorce. Therefore, it is necessary to make a lot of effort to achieve the necessary adaptation and mental health. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of mentalization-based treatment for children (MBT-C) on parental reflective functioning of divorced parents with children aged 5 to 12 in Isfahan.

The research design was quasi-experimental with pre-test, post-test, and a two-month follow-up period. The statistical population included all divorced parents with children aged 5 to 12 in Isfahan in the spring of 1401. For this purpose, by posting a call on social networks and inviting them to participate in the research, by available sampling method and considering the entry and exit criteria, 30 people were selected and randomly divided into two experimental and control groups (15 experimental and 15 Control) were assigned. The experimental group participated in 12 sessions of MBT-C based on 12 sessions of 60 minutes; But for the control group, no intervention was made. The research instrument included the parental reflective functioning questionnaire of Luyten et al, (2017). Research data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance in SPSS-26 software.

The results showed that MBT-C intervention had a significant effect on parental reflective functioning and its dimensions including prementalizing modes (PM), certainty of mental states (CMS), and interest and curiosity in mental states (IC) of divorced parents with children 5 to 12 years in two stages of post-test and follow-up. And the effects of treatment remained constant over time (p <0.01).

Considering the effectiveness of mentalization-based treatment for children (MBT-C) on parental reflective functioning of divorced parents with children aged 5 to 12, it is suggested that effective measures be taken by educational and medical specialists to develop parental education and treatment programs.