The Relationship between Child Temperament and Externalizing Problems in Children: The Moderating Role of Parental Reflective Functioning

This study aimed to investigate the moderating role of maternal reflective functioning in relationship between child temperament and externalizing problems. The Method of research was correlation. The statistical population included mothers of 6-8-year-old children in Saveh city in Iran. The research sample encompassed 200 mothers who were selected by convenient sampling. The participants completed the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (Luyten, Mayes, Nijssens & Fonagy, 2017), Child Behavior Checklist (Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001), Preschool Temperament and Character Inventory (Constantino et al, 2002). The data analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and hierarchical regression. The findings of this study illuminate positive relationship between pre-mentalizing mode and externalizing problems in children. Furthermore, there was a positive relationship between harm avoidance, novelty seeking, and reward dependence with externalizing problems. moderated the relationship between novelty seeking and externalizing problems. Accordingly, it can be claimed that by increasing the reflective functioning capacity of mothers, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of behavioral problems in early childhood, especially in children with difficult temperament.