Capacity for mentalization in adolescents: The contribution of parenting styles

Abstract

An authoritative parenting style and a high capacity for mentalization in adolescents have been recognized in the literature as a strong protective factor in preserving the mental health of adolescents. The aim of this research was to examine the predictive contribution of parenting styles to adolescents? capacity for mentalization. Two hundred high school students participated in the research (54.5% boys; the average age of the respondents was 17 years). The results of multiple regression analysis indicate that, when it comes to the parenting style of the mother, the dimensions of an authoritative style (regulation and connection) contribute significantly positively to an adolescent?s capacity for mentalization, while the dimensions of an authoritarian style (verbal hostility and non-reasoning) contribute significantly negatively to the development of this reflective function. When the father?s parenting style is taken into account, the dimension of an authoritative parenting style that significantly contributes to the development of mentalization is regulation, while the non-reasoning and physical coercion dimensions of an authoritarian style show a negative contribution. The main conclusion of the research is that the dimensions of an authoritative parenting style (connection and regulation) significantly contribute to the development of mentalization capacities in adolescents, while the dimensions of the authoritarian parenting style (verbal hostility of the mother, non-reasoning of both parents andphysical coercion of the father) negatively contribute to the development of mentalization. The basic pedagogical implications of the paper lead towards encouraging positive parenting styles, which would improve the overall development of children, as well as the development of their capacity for mentalization.