Objective: Subjective well-being is a crucial variable for mental health practitioners. This study examines the influence of therapists’ attachment dimensions and self-reported reflective functioning on their perceived well-being. Further, it examines if reflective functioning mediates the association between attachment insecurity and well-being. Method: A total of 416 experienced psychotherapists were enrolled in this cross-sectional study, and completed self-report measures of attachment insecurity, reflective functioning, and well-being. We tested the hypothesized mediation model with path analysis that examined indirect effects. Results: Both attachment anxiety and avoidance dimensions had a significant negative association with perceived well-being with small to medium effects. “Certainty” in reflective functioning had a small positive effect on therapist well-being. Reflective functioning mediated the association between insecure attachment dimensions and well-being, suggesting that therapist's lower ability to mentalize may partially account for the effects of higher attachment insecurity on lower well-being. Conclusion: The well-being of psychotherapists with greater insecure attachment may deserve special attention, and therapists’ mentalizing capacities may be targeted by researchers and trainers as a core ability to be cultivated in order to preserve therapists’ professional and personal resources.

Brugnera A., Zarbo C., Compare A., Talia A., Tasca G.A., de Jong K., et al. (2020). Self-reported reflective functioning mediates the association between attachment insecurity and well-being among psychotherapists. PSYCHOTHERAPY RESEARCH, 1-11 [10.1080/10503307.2020.1762946].

Self-reported reflective functioning mediates the association between attachment insecurity and well-being among psychotherapists

Lo Coco G.
2020-01-01

Abstract

Objective: Subjective well-being is a crucial variable for mental health practitioners. This study examines the influence of therapists’ attachment dimensions and self-reported reflective functioning on their perceived well-being. Further, it examines if reflective functioning mediates the association between attachment insecurity and well-being. Method: A total of 416 experienced psychotherapists were enrolled in this cross-sectional study, and completed self-report measures of attachment insecurity, reflective functioning, and well-being. We tested the hypothesized mediation model with path analysis that examined indirect effects. Results: Both attachment anxiety and avoidance dimensions had a significant negative association with perceived well-being with small to medium effects. “Certainty” in reflective functioning had a small positive effect on therapist well-being. Reflective functioning mediated the association between insecure attachment dimensions and well-being, suggesting that therapist's lower ability to mentalize may partially account for the effects of higher attachment insecurity on lower well-being. Conclusion: The well-being of psychotherapists with greater insecure attachment may deserve special attention, and therapists’ mentalizing capacities may be targeted by researchers and trainers as a core ability to be cultivated in order to preserve therapists’ professional and personal resources.
2020
Brugnera A., Zarbo C., Compare A., Talia A., Tasca G.A., de Jong K., et al. (2020). Self-reported reflective functioning mediates the association between attachment insecurity and well-being among psychotherapists. PSYCHOTHERAPY RESEARCH, 1-11 [10.1080/10503307.2020.1762946].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10447/427343
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