Presenting a Causal Model of Mothers’ Self-Esteem and Mentalizing Capacity with the Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation and Emotional Instability in Adolescents’ Emotional–Behavioral Disorders
Keywords:
Self-respect and mentalization, seeking order, Emotional instability, Emotional-behavioral disordersAbstract
Objective: The present study aimed to develop a causal model of mothers’ self-esteem and mentalizing capacity with the mediating role of emotion regulation and emotional instability in predicting adolescents’ emotional–behavioral disorders.
Methods and Materials: This correlational study was conducted using path analysis within the framework of structural equation modeling. The statistical population included all mothers and their 16–18-year-old adolescents in Mashhad, Iran. Using multistage cluster sampling, 420 mothers and 420 adolescents were selected. Research instruments included the Achenbach and Rescorla Emotional–Behavioral Problems Questionnaire, Multidimensional Self-Esteem Inventory, Mentalizing Questionnaire, Mentalized Affectivity Scale, and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS-25 and LISREL-8.8 through structural equation modeling and covariance analysis.
Findings: The findings demonstrated that the proposed model had a satisfactory fit to the data (RMSEA=0.02, CFI=0.99). Mothers’ self-esteem had a significant negative direct effect on adolescents’ internalizing problems (β=-0.17, p<0.001) and externalizing problems (β=-0.11, p<0.05). Mothers’ mentalizing capacity also showed a significant negative direct effect on internalizing problems (β=-0.41, p<0.001) and externalizing problems (β=-0.12, p<0.05). Furthermore, self-esteem and mentalizing capacity were positively associated with emotion regulation and negatively associated with emotional instability. Emotion regulation and emotional instability significantly mediated the relationship between mothers’ self-esteem and mentalizing capacity and adolescents’ emotional–behavioral disorders. The model explained 41% of the variance in internalizing problems and 25% of the variance in externalizing problems.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that mothers’ self-esteem and mentalizing capacity function as important protective factors against adolescents’ emotional–behavioral disorders. Mothers with higher self-esteem and stronger mentalizing abilities demonstrate better emotional regulation and lower emotional instability, which contributes to fewer emotional and behavioral problems in their adolescents.
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