Parental mentalization and children's externalizing problems: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Child Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Parental mentalization, understanding children's mental states, is crucial for child development.
• Externalizing problems in children are a significant concern with long-term implications.
• The link between parental mentalization and child externalizing behaviors requires further empirical investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a meta-analysis examining the relationship between parental mentalization and children's externalizing problems.
• To quantify the association between parental mentalization and reduced externalizing behaviors.
• To explore potential moderators influencing this relationship.

Main Methods:

• A systematic meta-analysis of 42 studies involving caregivers and children aged 0-18 years.
• Searched six electronic databases for relevant empirical studies.
• Employed random-effects modeling to analyze 52 effect sizes.

Main Results:

• A significant inverse association was found: higher parental mentalization correlated with fewer externalizing problems (r = -.19).
• High heterogeneity was observed (I² = 83.750), prompting further analysis.
• Parenting experience and child's developmental stage significantly moderated the association.

Conclusions:

• Parental mentalization is a significant protective factor against the development of externalizing behaviors in children.
• Findings suggest practical implications for parent-focused interventions to improve mentalization skills.
• Enhancing parental mentalization may be a viable strategy for preventing externalizing problems across childhood and adolescence.