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Open AccessOriginalarbeit

Misshandlungserfahrungen in der Kindheit, Einschränkungen der Mentalisierungsfähigkeit und Wohlbefinden im Erwachsenenalter

Published Online:April 26, 2022https://doi.org/10.1026/0049-8637/a000254

Abstract

Zusammenfassung. Misshandlungserfahrungen in Kindheit und Jugend sind ein umfassendes und weitverbreitetes Problem, das mit massivem Leidensdruck der Betroffenen einhergeht und gravierenden Einfluss auf deren psychosoziale Entwicklung verübt. Mentalisieren – die Fähigkeit, Verhalten auf Basis intentionaler mentaler Zustände wahrnehmen zu können – wird in jüngerer Zeit als schützende Fähigkeit beschrieben, die diesen Zusammenhang vermitteln könnte, so zum Erhalt von Wohlbefinden beiträgt und durch mentalisierungsfördernde Interventionen adressierbar ist. Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Studie zeigt sich auf Basis der Daten von 259 Proband_innen (Querschnitt) in einem Strukurgleichungsmodell, dass retrospektiv erfasste Misshandlungserfahrungen einen negativen Einfluss auf das gegenwärtige Wohlbefinden im Erwachsenenalter verüben. Weiterhin wurde der Zusammenhang über die Mentalisierungsfähigkeit vermittelt. Die Daten erhärten die Annahme, dass die Mentalisierungsfähigkeit an der intrapsychischen Verarbeitungung aversiver Stimuli beteiligt ist, und untermauern die Notwendigkeit, mentalisierungsfördernde Interventionen verstärkt als präventive und niederschwellige Maßnahmen in früh-‍, sozial-‍, schul- und sonderpädagogischen Settings zu nutzen.


Childhood Maltreatment, Deficits in Mentalizing, and Well-Being in Adulthood

Abstract. Childhood maltreatment is a widespread phenomenon, leading to severe consequences in later life, such as mental health problems and reduced well-being. Mentalizing – the capacity to understand behavior in terms of intentional mental states – has been described as a protective factor in the face of aversive environmental circumstances that could possibly mediate the association between maltreatment and reduced well-being. Using structural equation modeling based on data from 259 adults in a cross-sectional research design, we assessed the associations between these constructs. Our results indicate a negative effect of a history of childhood maltreatment on well-being in adulthood. Moreover, our findings suggest a mediating effect of mentalizing and therefore confirm the hypothesis that mentalizing serves as a psychological processing capacity to help those affected to cope with early adversity. Regarding the current findings, we discuss mentalization-based preventive interventions in educational settings as a promising framework for intervention.

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