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Longitudinal Relationships Between Reflective Functioning, Empathy, and Externalizing Behaviors During Adolescence
Larisa Morosan1,2, Paolo Ghisletta3,4,5, Deborah Badoud3,6
1Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, 40, Bd du Pont-d'Arve, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland. Larisa.Morosan@unige.ch.
Child Psychiatry and Human Development
|July 17, 2019
Summary
Reflective functioning (RF) and affective empathy significantly reduce externalizing behaviors in adolescents over time. Early impairments in RF and empathy predict higher levels of externalizing behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Reflective functioning (RF) and empathy are crucial socio-cognitive skills.
- Low RF and empathy are linked to externalizing behaviors like aggression.
- Longitudinal data on these relationships in adolescence are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the longitudinal impact of RF and empathy on externalizing behaviors in adolescents.
- To investigate how RF and empathy influence changes in externalizing behaviors over time.
- To explore these relationships in a typically developing adolescent population.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study with 103 adolescents and young adults, assessed up to four times.
- Multilevel analysis to assess initial levels and trajectories of externalizing behaviors.
- Controlled for age, gender, internalizing problems, and cognitive abilities.
Main Results:
- Higher reflective functioning predicted a greater decrease in externalizing behaviors over time.
- Externalizing behaviors at baseline were associated with lower RF and affective empathy.
- Age, gender, cognitive abilities, and cognitive empathy did not significantly predict externalizing behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Reflective functioning and affective empathy are key targets for preventing externalizing behaviors.
- Interventions focusing on socio-cognitive development may reduce aggression and rule-breaking.
- Findings support the role of mental state understanding and emotion sharing in behavioral regulation.
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