The assessment of mentalizing ability in adolescents: the Italian adaptation of the Mentalization Questionnaire (MZQ)

The ability of mentalization includes the ability to recognize and manage mental states, and it is strictly linked to psychological well-being. However, there is a lack of validated measures to assess this ability in the Italian context. The aim of the present study was to provide an Italian validation of the Mentalization Questionnaire (MZQ), which allows a comprehensive evaluation of the ability to infer and understand one's own mental states (Study 1). We also tested the predictive validity of the test, by comparing a normative sample with a clinical sample composed of restrictive eating disordered adolescents (Study 2). Overall, results show that the instrument is an accurate and reliable measure for assessing the mentalization ability of adolescents, also within the Italian context. Moreover, results support the predictive validity of the Italian version of the MZQ, showing that restrictive eating disordered adolescents have less ability in recognizing and expressing their own emotions. Limitations, strengths, and clinical implications of the two studies are discussed.