The relationship between mentalization and emotional dysregulation and well-being in adolescents: Mediating role of attachment

The purpose of the present study is to determine the relationship between mentalization, emotional disorder and well-being in adolescents with the role of attachment as a mediator. Descriptive correlation type research and statistical population of ۲۰۰ teenagers aged ۱۴ to ۱۸ years (۹۴.۳% girls and ۵.۷% boys) were selected in the academic year of ۱۴۰۱ using available sampling method. The research tools included reflective activity questionnaire, emotion regulation difficulty questionnaire, Riff psychological well-being standard questionnaire and Collins and Reed attachment questionnaire. Data analysis with the structural model showed that attachment styles play a mediating role in relation to mentalization, emotional disorder and well-being. It showed a significant correlation between all three attachment styles with the two dependent variables of emotional dysregulation and psychological well-being (p<۰.۰۵). The findings showed that the confidence component had no relationship with any of the research variables, but the uncertainty component had a significant relationship with all the research variables (p<۰.۰۵). The findings showed that emotional dysregulation with a coefficient of -۰.۶۶ and avoidant attachment with a coefficient of -۰.۵۴ had the strongest relationship with psychological well-being. Also, psychological well-being had the strongest relationship with emotion dysregulation, followed by ambivalent attachment with a coefficient of ۰.۵۵ and avoidant attachment with a coefficient of ۰.۵۱ (p<۰.۰۵).

Keywords:

well-being , emotional disorder , mentalization , attachment and adolescence