Adolescents’ quality of life in the light of mentalization and emotion regulation

Introduction According to research there is a negative association between emotion regulation, mentalization difficulties and quality of life among adolescents, but former research did not examine the relationship between these 3 constructs in a Hungarian adolescent sample. Objectives The aim of our study was to examine the relationship between mentalization and emotion regulation with quality of life among 14- to 18-year-old adolescents. Methods In our non-clinical, cross-sectional study 122 adolescents with informed consent answered a list of demographic questions, then completed the Reflective Function Questionnaire (RFQ-H), the Emotion Regulation Difficulties Questionnaire (DERS) and the Quality of Life Scale (ILK). In our mediator model we chose RFQ-H as the independent, DERS as the mediator and ILK as the dependent variable. Results The first model was significant (F(1,120) = 28,79 p < 0,001, R2= 0,19), there was a significant relationship between mentalization disfunction and emotional regulation difficulties (a=0,39, p<0,01, β=0,44). The second model was significant as well (F(2,119= 30,48 p < 0,001, R2= 0,34), though the direct effect between mentalization difficulties and low quality of life was not significant (c’=0,02, p=0,73, β=0,03), the direct effect between emotion regulation difficulties and low quality of life was significant (b=0,58, p<0,01, β=0,57). The indirect effect between mentalization disfunction and low quality of life mediated by emotional regulation difficulties was also significant ab = 0,22 [0,13 – 0,33], β =0,25 [0,14 – 0,36]). Conclusions Our results - taking the limitations into account - imply that emotional regulation mediates the relationship between mentalization and quality of life among the present-day, non-clinical, Hungarian adolescent sample, which could have practical implications. Disclosure of Interest None Declared