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Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran. , asie.moradi@razi.ac.ir
Abstract: (38 Views)
Background: Young adulthood, as a sensitive and transitional developmental period, is accompanied by extensive biological, social, and psychological changes. Psychological distress and emotion dysregulation are among the common problems experienced during this stage and may be influenced by early attachment experiences. Mentalization, as a core capacity for understanding and regulating emotions, may elucidate the pathway through which early traumatic experiences contribute to emotional difficulties. However, limited research has examined the mediating role of mentalization in this relationship, especially among Iranian young adults.
Aims: The present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of mentalization in the relationship between childhood trauma and emotion dysregulation among young adults in the city of Kermanshah.
Methods: This applied study employed a descriptive–correlational design using structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of all young adults residing in Kermanshah, from whom 462 participants were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (Bernstein et al., 1994), the Mentalization Questionnaire (Dimitrijević et al., 2018), and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (Gratz & Roemer, 2004). Data analysis was conducted using descriptive and inferential statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, and structural equation modeling with SPSS-27 and AMOS-24. The significance level was set at 0.05.
Results: The results of the structural equation model indicated that childhood trauma had a significant direct negative effect on mentalization (β = −0.35) and a significant direct positive effect on emotion dysregulation (β = 0.30). In addition, mentalization exerted a significant direct negative effect on emotion dysregulation (β = −0.34). Bootstrap analysis demonstrated that the indirect effect of childhood trauma on emotion dysregulation through mentalization was significant (β = −0.18, p < 0.01).
Conclusion: The findings indicate that mentalization plays a significant mediating role in the relationship between childhood trauma and emotion dysregulation. Enhancing mentalization capacity may serve as an effective intervention strategy to mitigate the negative emotional consequences of childhood trauma among young adults.
Aims: The present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of mentalization in the relationship between childhood trauma and emotion dysregulation among young adults in the city of Kermanshah.
Methods: This applied study employed a descriptive–correlational design using structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of all young adults residing in Kermanshah, from whom 462 participants were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (Bernstein et al., 1994), the Mentalization Questionnaire (Dimitrijević et al., 2018), and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (Gratz & Roemer, 2004). Data analysis was conducted using descriptive and inferential statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, and structural equation modeling with SPSS-27 and AMOS-24. The significance level was set at 0.05.
Results: The results of the structural equation model indicated that childhood trauma had a significant direct negative effect on mentalization (β = −0.35) and a significant direct positive effect on emotion dysregulation (β = 0.30). In addition, mentalization exerted a significant direct negative effect on emotion dysregulation (β = −0.34). Bootstrap analysis demonstrated that the indirect effect of childhood trauma on emotion dysregulation through mentalization was significant (β = −0.18, p < 0.01).
Conclusion: The findings indicate that mentalization plays a significant mediating role in the relationship between childhood trauma and emotion dysregulation. Enhancing mentalization capacity may serve as an effective intervention strategy to mitigate the negative emotional consequences of childhood trauma among young adults.
Article number: 5
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