Clinical psychologist's mentalization: Relationship between parenting styles, psychological mindedness and level of empathy

The aim of the study is to examine the relationship between parental attitude, psychological mindedness and empathy levels of clinical psychologists. The sample group of this study consists of 150 clinical psychologists (between the ages of 24-49; 100 female, 50 male) living in Turkey, with at least 1 year of professional experience and following at least 10 clients. The research data was obtained by using the Balanced Index of Psychological Mindedness, Empathy Scale, Parental Attachment Scale and the Sociodemographic Data Form prepared by the researcher. In the results of the study, the psychological mindedness score of female participants was found to be significantly higher than the score of male participants (p<.05). The level of psychological mindedness does not show a significant difference with regards to age (p>.05). There was no significant difference between the psychological mindedness score of clinical psychologists with regards to their professional experience (p>.05). Although there is no difference between the total psychological mindedness scores, there is an increase in the interest and insight dimensions of psychological mindedness with regards to age and professional experience. The psychological mindedness level of clinical psychologists who received therapy was found to be significantly higher than clinical psychologists who did not receive therapy (p<.05). When the psychological mindedness level of clinical psychologists was compared with their therapy receipt status; the score of clinical psychologists who received therapy was found to be significantly higher than clinical psychologists who did not receive therapy (p<.05). When the empathy levels of clinical psychologists were compared according to gender, the total score of women was significantly higher than the score of men (p<.05). However, no significant difference was found in the empathic interest/sympathy dimension with regards to gender (p>.05). When the empathy levels of clinical psychologists were compared according to age group, no significant difference was found in total score and cognitive empathy, empathic interest/sympathy and with regards to social competence dimensions (p>.05). However, in the emotional response dimension, the score of the participants in the 24-29 age group was significantly higher than the score of the participants in the 40-49 age group. There was no significant difference between the empathy level of clinical psychologists and with regards to their professional experience in the total score and in the dimensions of cognitive empathy, empathic interest/sympathy and social competence (p>.05). However, in the emotional response dimension, the score of the participants with 1-5 years and 5-10 years of professional experience was significantly higher than the score of the participants with 10 years or more of professional experience. There was no significant difference between the empathy level of clinical psychologists with regards to the presence of personal therapy in total score, cognitive empathy and social competence dimensions (p>.05). However, a significant difference was found in favor of the participants who did not receive therapy in the empathic interest/sympathy dimension and in favor of the participants who received therapy in the emotional response dimension (p<.05). It was found that the total scores and sub-dimensions of clinical psychologists' parental attitude had a positive and significant relationship with the level of psychological mentality (p<.05) [Maternal Attitude (Total): (r=.361*); Maternal Care (r=.346); Maternal Overprotectiveness: (r=.249); Paternal Attitude (Total): (r=.458); Paternal Care: (r=.451); Paternal Overprotectiveness: (r=.191)]. It was determined that clinical psychologists' total score of mother and father attitude, maternal care and paternal care dimensions had a positive and significant relationship with empathy level (p<.05). However, no significant relationship was found between the dimensions of maternal overprotectiveness and paternal overprotectiveness and empathy level (p<.05) [Maternal Attitude (Total): (r=.282*); Maternal Care: (r=.376); Maternal Overprotectiveness: (r=-.047); Paternal Attitude (Total): (r=.358); Paternal Care: (r=.430*); Paternal Overprotectiveness: (r=-.073)]. A positive and moderately significant relationship was found between the level of psychological mindedness and empathy level of clinical psychologists [(p<.05)(r=.475**)]. According to these results, it can be said that there is a significant relationship between positive parental attitudes, psychological mindedness and empathy level in the clinical psychologist sample. Keywords: Psychological Mindedness, Parental Attitudes, Empathy, Clinical Psychologist