The relationship between parental reflective functioning and emotional dysregulation of adolescent: The mediating role of mentalization ability

The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of mentalization ability in the relationship between parental reflective functioning and adolescent emotional dysregulation. The design of the present study was descriptive-correlational. The statistical population of this study was male and female students who were in the age range of 11 to 17 years, who in 2020-2021 were studying in regions one and two of Zanjan City. 200 people were selected using available sampling for this study. The research instruments included the Reflective Function Questionnaire (RFQ) (Ha & et al., 2013) and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale- (DERS) (Gratz & Roemer, 2004). Data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation test and path analysis. Fit indicators showed an excellent fit of the data with the modified model. Parental reflective functioning (both mother and father) was indirectly able to predict emotional dysregulation in adolescents through the ability to mentalize (p<0.001). From the results, it can be concluded that Parental reflective functioning and the ability to mentalize together can play a major role in predicting emotional dysregulation in adolescents and it is necessary to pay attention to these factors in emotional regulation promotion programs.