Psychometric properties and factor structure of the Greek version of Reflective Functioning Questionnaire

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Mentalizing, the ability to understand mental states, is crucial for self-organization and emotional regulation.
• The Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (RFQ) is a new measure designed to assess mentalizing capabilities.
• Validation of the RFQ is necessary for its effective use in research and clinical settings, particularly in diverse populations like the Greek population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (RFQ) in Greek populations.
• To assess the psychometric properties of the RFQ, including its reliability and validity.
• To evaluate the RFQ's utility for research and clinical practice concerning mentalizing abilities.

Main Methods:

• A principal component analysis was conducted on data from 219 participants (102 with type 1 diabetes, 117 healthy individuals).
• The study examined the internal consistencies of the RFQ's subscales (RF certainty and RF uncertainty).
• Relationships between RFQ scores and measures of psychological distress, empathy, and emotional intelligence were analyzed to establish validity.

Main Results:

• The principal component analysis supported a 2-factor model for the RFQ in both clinical and healthy samples.
• Internal consistencies for both RF certainty (α=0.80) and RF uncertainty (α=0.79) subscales were satisfactory.
• Significant associations were found between RFQ scores and psychological distress, empathy, and emotional intelligence, supporting the scale's validity. Older participants showed more balanced reflective functioning.

Conclusions:

• The current data support the reliability and validity of the RFQ for research use in assessing mentalizing impairments.
• Further research, including test-retest analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, is recommended.
• Extending validity testing to clinical populations is crucial for supporting the RFQ's application in clinical practice.