Mentalization, epistemic trust and externalizing problem in adolescence [MENTALIZZAZIONE, FIDUCIA EPISTEMICA E DISTURBI ESTERNALIZZANTI IN ADOLESCENZA]

Mentalization is the ability to understand one’s own and others’ behaviors in terms of mental states and has recently been linked to epistemic trust, namely the ability to acquire knowledge from others. Recently, these constructs have been found to protect the adolescent individual from the risk of emotion dysregulation, which is notoriously involved in externalizing problems. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate whether there is an association between epistemic trust and mentalizing abilities, and how this can influence the emergence of externalizing problems. Thus, 132 nonclinical adolescents (Mage = 15.96, SD = 1.70; Female 46%), completed a self-report test battery which included the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire for Youth, the Inventory of Parents and Peer Attachment, and the Youth Self-Report. Results from the regression models show that the ability to mentalize and adequate epistemic trust may play a protective role from the risk of developing externalizing problems. Although these preliminary results significantly contribute to a recent research area that is increasingly getting attention, further studies are needed to deeper understand how these constructs are associated.