The Role of Adolescent Mentalizing and Parental Reflective Functioning for Adolescents' Peer Relationships

From a theoretical standpoint, findings suggest the important role of parental reflective functioning and youth mentalizing for models of social development. In terms of methodological implications, task and self-report of youth mentalizing were related but differentially predicted peer problems. Practically speaking, findings suggest that bolstering parents reflective functioning may support the development of adolescents' mentalizing skills and positive peer relationships.