Preliminary data on the psychometric proprieties of the italian version of the reflective functioning questionnaire. (13th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zobel, S. Beomonte; Ciavolino, E.; Beyer, S.; Fonagy, P.
• Is Part Of: European psychiatry. Volume 64:Supplement 1(2021)
• Page Start: S509
• Page End: S509
• Publication Date: 2021-04-13
• Subjects: RFQ -- italian validation -- Reflective functioning -- psychometric properties; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Mental illness -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.1362
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0924-9338

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction: Assessing mentalizing abilities is a complex issue. Only recently an instrument assessing mentalizing capacity as a whole, the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (RFQ), has been developed. Objectives: To reach the purpose of our study, we investigated the psychometric proprieties of the Italian version of the RFQ. Methods: The study was conducted on a sample including a group of violent offenders and a group of community participants. All subjects fulfilled the RFQ, the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5) and the Aggression Questionnaire (AQ). Results: The theoretical model was defined and analysed by using Partial Least Squares–Path Modelling with high-order construct definition. Data showed good psychometric proprieties of the Italian version of the RFQ. Also, specific patterns of correlations were identified between the RFQ subscales and both PID-5 and AQ scores. Offenders significantly differed from controls only in relation to one subscale of the RFQ. Conclusions: Data supported the factorial structure of the RFQ found in the original validation study. Results also support the existence of a second-order variable, mentalizing, resulting from the convergence of hypomentalizing and hypermentalizing.