The relationship between self-construal and attachment style with mentalization capacity as a moderating variable

Abstract

The main goal of the study was to investigate the relationship between attachment, self-construal and reflective functioning within two different Turkish samples and an American sample. The second aim of the study was to look at how these three concepts differ among the three samples. Online surveys consisting of the Experiences in Close Relationships Questionnaire-Revised (ECR-R), the Autonomous-Related Self Scale (ARS) and the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (RFQ-54) with a short demographic form were carried out and data analysis was done with a total of 538 college students whose ages ranged from 18 to 26. The cultural comparison results showed that the Turkish participants scored higher in attachment anxiety, autonomous self and autonomous relational self than the American participants who scored higher in attachment avoidance. In all samples, a significant association between attachment and self-construal was found, while the hypothesized moderator role of reflective functioning was not present. A post hoc analysis was conducted with Turkish samples to explore the mediator role of reflective functioning on the link between attachment and self-construal. The results revealed that reflective functioning partially mediated the relationship between attachment avoidance and autonomous relational self while fully mediated the link between attachment anxiety and autonomous relational self. Thus, it was concluded that secure attachment seems to facilitate the integration of autonomy and relationality needs through the ability to understand and reflect on one's own needs. All findings were discussed in view of the existing literature.