Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 18, 2025
07:56
Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
Published on: September 19, 2019
10.4K
Exploring mentalization, trust, communication quality, and alienation in adolescents.
Angela Clarke1, Pamela J Meredith1,2, Tanya A Rose1
1School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Plos One
|June 17, 2020
Summary
This study found that while parent-teen trust and communication are linked, adolescent mentalization capacity did not correlate with these factors or alienation. Further research is needed to understand these complex relationships.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Mentalization is crucial for adolescent psychosocial development.
- Understanding the link between mentalization and socio-cognitive factors is essential.
- Attachment-related factors like trust, communication, and alienation are key in parent-teen relationships.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between adolescent mentalization capacity and parent-teen trust, communication, and alienation.
- To explore socio-cognitive factors influencing adolescent psychosocial functioning.
- To examine these relationships in a cross-sectional design.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative, cross-sectional study involving 82 Australian adolescents (mean age 17.09).
- Utilized the Children's Eyes Test to measure mentalization.
- Employed the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment-45 to assess trust, communication quality, and alienation.
Main Results:
- Parent-teen trust and communication quality were significantly positively correlated (p = .001) with mothers and fathers, controlling for age and gender.
- Trust and communication quality were significantly negatively correlated with alienation (p = .001).
- Adolescent mentalization capacity showed no significant correlation with trust, communication quality, or alienation with either parent (p ≤ .05).
Conclusions:
- No direct relationship was found between adolescent mentalization and key attachment-related factors in parent-teen relationships.
- The study proposes potential explanations for the lack of correlation.
- Highlights the need for further research into the interplay of mentalization and socio-cognitive factors in adolescence.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Cognitive Development During Adolescence
381
During adolescence, individuals experience significant cognitive development that enhances their understanding of others' emotions and thoughts, known as cognitive empathy. This period is marked by an increased ability to adapt to others' perspectives and a more nuanced understanding of others' mental states, a skill that is foundational for social problem-solving and conflict avoidance. The development of cognitive empathy relies heavily on the theory of mind — the...
381
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
5.6K
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
5.6K
01:23Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity
379
Adolescence is a pivotal period of identity formation, during which individuals begin to answer questions central to their sense of self, such as "Who am I?" and "Who do I hope to become?" Both parents and peers play critical roles in guiding adolescents through this complex developmental phase.
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth....
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth....
379
01:17Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adolescence
888
Erik Erikson's fifth stage of psychosocial development, "identity versus role confusion," is crucial during adolescence (ages 12 to 18). In this stage, adolescents face the developmental task of forging a distinct personal identity, a process influenced by social, psychological, and biological changes typical of this period. Adolescents naturally explore different roles, behaviors, and ideologies as they navigate complex questions of self-concept, asking, "Who am I?" and "What is my place in...
888
01:27Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
182
Adolescents from ethnic minority backgrounds face a multifaceted journey in forming their identities, shaped by the intersections of cultural expectations and personal exploration. For these adolescents, identity formation involves not only typical developmental challenges but also navigating the perceptions and attitudes of the majority culture. As they grow, adolescents in ethnic minority groups often become increasingly aware of stereotypes, social biases, and discrimination, all of which...
182
01:20Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other
165
According to George Herbert Mead, as children progress beyond the game stage, they develop a more comprehensive understanding of societal rules and norms. This cognitive and social development enables them to internalize the expectations of the broader community, refining their ability to regulate behavior.Consistent participation in organized activities is crucial in helping children recognize that their actions are not isolated but contribute to a more significant, interconnected group...
165