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Abstract
Background
Sexual abuse is a well-recognised risk factor for child psychopathology. Little is
known regarding whether child and maternal mentalization can be considered a potential
resource or protective factor in this context, respectively, mediating or moderating
the relationship between sexual abuse and psychopathology.
Objective
The aims of this study were (1) to explore the relationships between child and maternal
mentalizing, measured as reflective functioning (RF), and child depressive symptoms
and externalising difficulties; and (2) to examine whether child mentalizing mediates
the relationship between child sexual abuse (CSA) and psychopathology.
Method
A total of 168 children aged 7–12 years and their mothers participated in the study.
The sample included 74 dyads where children had experienced sexual abuse. The Child
Attachment Interview was rated by using the Child Reflective Functioning Scale to
assess children's mentalization, and the Child Depression Inventory was used to assess
depressive symptoms. Mothers completed the Parent Development Interview to assess
maternal RF and the Child Behavior Checklist to assess their child's externalising
difficulties. A model involving direct and indirect paths from CSA, child and maternal
RF to child psychopathology was examined using Mplus software.
Results
Child mentalization partially mediated the relationships between CSA and depressive
symptoms, as well as the relationship between CSA and externalising difficulties.
Maternal mentalization was an independent predictor of child externalising difficulties,
with higher maternal RF associated with less externalising difficulties.
Discussion
The findings indicate that by ages 7–12, child mentalization is an important inner
resource associated with lower depression and externalising. In addition, this study
provides new evidence of the importance of the parent's mentalizing stance for the
development of self-regulation and externalising difficulties in both abused and non-abused
children. The clinical implications are discussed.