The Relationship between Mentalization and Attachment Related Anxiety and Avoidance in Teenage Girl

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between theory of mind and attachment styles in terms of anxiety and avoidance in adolescent girls. Methods and Materials: The research method was descriptive correlational. A total of 280 adolescents aged 12-13 and 14-17 years old were randomly selected. Participants responded to two questionnaires on Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET-R) and the Experiences in Close Relationships–Relationship Structures (ECR-RS). Data were analyzed by Pearson correlation and stepwise regression. SPSS software was used for this purpose. In this study, there was a significant relationship between the accuracy of theory of mind in adolescents (12-13 years old) with attachment style in terms of anxiety with mother, father, friend and anxiety (p<0.001). Stepwise regression analysis showed that anxiety with father, mother and friend was 0.96, 0.003, and 0.001. Predicted the variance of theory of mind (p<0.001, p<0.01). No significant relationship was found in the larger adolescent group. In order to better understand the relationship between adolescent attachment and theory of mind, it is necessary to consider common factors and distinguish between different types of unsecured attachment, especially between anxiety and avoidance.