Background: According to research, there is a negative association between emotion regulation, mentalization difficulties and quality of life among adolescents. However, no former study examined the relationship between these three constructs in a Hungarian adolescent sample.
Methods: In our non-clinical cross-sectional study, 122 adolescents answered a list of demographic questions and then completed the Reflective Function Questionnaire (RFQ-H), the Emotion Regulation Difficulties Questionnaire (DERS) and the Quality of Life Scale (ILK) after informed consent. In our mediator model, we chose the Reflective Function Questionnaire as the independent variable, the Emotional Regulation Difficulties Questionnaire as the mediator and the Quality of Life Scale as the dependent variable.
Results: There was a significant relationship between mentalization dysfunction and emotional regulation difficulties (a=0.39, p< .01, ß=0.44). The direct effect between mentalization difficulties and low quality of life was not significant (c'=0.02, p=.73, ß=0.03), while the indirect effect between mentalization dysfunction and low quality of life mediated by emotional regulation difficulties was significant (ab=0.22 [0.13-0.33], ß=0.25 [0.14-0.36]).
Conclusion: Our results imply that emotional regulation mediates the relationship between mentalization and quality of life among the Hungarian adolescent sample, which have practical implications.