The Importance of Mentalized Affectivity in Understanding the Relationship between Adverse Childhood Experience & Pathological Concern
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-1-2024
Abstract
With increasing interest in emotional regulation as an important determinant of psychopathology, prior research has demonstrated that mentalization plays a role in the development of psychological distress and dysfunction. Mentalized affectivity, a specialized form of emotion regulation that includes valuing emotions and reflecting on how current affect is shaped by past experience, may be an especially important factor that both predicts and mediates how prior experience influences current functioning. The current study aimed to investigate how mentalized affectivity, a component of mentalization, might have an indirect effect on the relationship between adverse childhood experience and pathological concern. A total of 171 participants completed measures of adverse childhood experience, pathological concern, and mentalized affectivity (MA). Parallel mediation analysis confirmed that MA had an indirect effect on the relationship between adverse childhood experience and pathological concern. Specifically, lower identifying and expressing components accounted for the mediating effect. The role of compromised MA is discussed, including how deficits in identifying and expressing may be important factors when assessing and treating those with adverse childhood experiences and pathological concern. Future directions, both clinical and empirical, are explored.
Published In
Luchner, Andrew & Siegler, Katherine & Goodwin, Alana. (2024). The Importance of Mentalized Affectivity in Understanding the Relationship between Adverse Childhood Experience & Pathological Concern. North American Journal of Psychology. 26. 127-138.
Publication Title
North American Journal of Psychology
ISSN
1527-7143