Mentalizing Problems in Children with T1D and Their Parents: A Qualitative Study

The mentalization capacity or the ability to understand the mental state of oneself and others, as well as showing the appropriate reaction to it, can play a significant role in the treatment process and adapting to the changes caused by chronic diseases in life. The aim of this qualitative study is to identify the mentalizing problems of 8-12 years old children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and their parents. Therefore, the lived experiences of 18 children with T1D and 22 of their parents through a semi-structured interview with Child and Adolescent Reflective Functioning Scale (CRFS) and Parent Development Interview (PDI) have been analyzed and classified, using purposive sampling technique until saturation and transcendental or psychological phenomenological approach. The final outcome of this phenomenological study is the extraction of three general themes, including the underlying factors of breakdowns in mentalizing, types of common mentalizing problems, and the consequences of breakdowns in mentalizing. The results of this research and reflection on the mentalization failure cycle model, in addition to facilitating relationships and regulating the emotions of children with T1D and their parents, can significantly contribute to the design of a mentalizing problems scale, developing psychological interventions, and improving medical services.