Assessment of aggression-related mental states in adolescents with aggression tendencies and their mothers in the framework of attachment theory

The aim of the present study is to examine the relationship between adolescents' aggressive behaviors, and adolescents' and their mothers' early experiences, as well as their ability to comprehend mental processes. To this end, three studies were planned. Firstly, the psychometric properties of the Mentalization Scale (MentS) in adolescents, which was previously developed for adults, were examined. The results of the analysis conducted with 1399 participants aged between 14-18 years indicate that the MentS is a promising measurement tool for adolescents, although it has limitations. Secondly, the mediating role of mother's and adolescent's mentalization skills in the relationship between mother's attachment patterns and adolescent aggressive behaviors was examined. Adolescents who participated in the first stage and whose mothers consented to participate in the study were also included in the second study and the analyses were conducted with 484 adolescent-mother pairs. The findings indicated that the mother's level of insecure attachment predicted aggression in girls through the mother's and adolescent's mentalization skills. While mentalization skills fully mediated the relationship between avoidant attachment and aggression, the direct relationship between anxious attachment and aggression was also significant in the presence of mediators. In the mediation models tested for boys, the relationship between the mediators (i.e. the mother's and adolescent's mentalization skills) disappeared and the models were found to be insignificant. Finally, a qualitative study including semi-structured interviews was conducted separately with seven adolescent-mother dyads to evaluate the state of mind of adolescents with anger management difficulties and aggression tendencies and their mothers regarding self and others. Thematic analysis findings revealed that the adolescent's perceptions of weak and controlling family and parental relationships as well as fragile and maladaptive self-perceptions may be influential in terms of aggressive behaviors. The ambivalent attitudes of mothers towards their own early experiences, the way they interpret their adolescent's personality and behaviors, their approach to their child's behavior problems, and the perceived support they receive from their husbands in the roles of father and partner may be related to the adolescent aggressive behaviors. All findings were discussed in light of the existing literature.