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The Role of Child Language Ability and Parental Mentalization in Early Child Dysregulation

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Title: The Role of Child Language Ability and Parental Mentalization in Early Child Dysregulation
Language: English
Authors: Sara Cibralic (ORCID 0000-0003-1888-2956), Mary Xu, Nancy Wallace, Susan Morgan, Angelique Roth, Hannah Chau, Jane Kohlhoff (ORCID 0000-0001-6202-6685)
Source: Infant Mental Health Journal: Infancy and Early Childhood. 2026 47(1).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 13
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Preschool Children, Language Skills, Child Behavior, Metacognition, Reflection, Behavior Modification, Receptive Language, Self Management, Language Acquisition, Foreign Countries, Children
Geographic Terms: Australia
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: Mullen Scales of Early Learning, Child Behavior Checklist
DOI: 10.1002/imhj.70028
ISSN: 0163-9641
1097-0355
Abstract: Dysregulation in early childhood is associated with increased vulnerability to psychopathology and poor psychosocial outcomes. While there is evidence that both child language ability and parental mentalization are associated with dysregulation in early childhood, there is little understanding of the relationships between these variables, and minimal research has been conducted in clinical samples. This study tested the association between child language ability (using the Mullens Scale of Early Learning) and child dysregulation (using the Child Behavior Checklist Dysregulation Profile), and examined whether parental mentalization (operationalized as Parental Reflective Functioning and Mind-Mindedness, assessed using Diamond Maternal Reflective Functioning Scale and interactional 20-min play sessions, respectively) mediated this relationship, in a clinical sample of 90 mother-child dyads (child M age = 19.48 months, SD = 3.15) referred to a specialized community-based child behavior treatment clinic located in Sydney, Australia. Results showed that greater child receptive language and better parental reflective functioning were associated with lower rates of child dysregulation. Contrary to expectation, however, parental mentalization did not mediate the relationship between child language and dysregulation. These findings suggest that clinically, children with dysregulation may benefit from interventions targeting receptive language and parental reflective functioning; however, further research in this area is required.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1493630
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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PubType: Academic Journal
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IllustrationInfo
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  Data: The Role of Child Language Ability and Parental Mentalization in Early Child Dysregulation
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sara+Cibralic%22">Sara Cibralic</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1888-2956">0000-0003-1888-2956</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mary+Xu%22">Mary Xu</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nancy+Wallace%22">Nancy Wallace</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Susan+Morgan%22">Susan Morgan</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Angelique+Roth%22">Angelique Roth</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hannah+Chau%22">Hannah Chau</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jane+Kohlhoff%22">Jane Kohlhoff</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6202-6685">0000-0001-6202-6685</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Infant+Mental+Health+Journal%3A+Infancy+and+Early+Childhood%22"><i>Infant Mental Health Journal: Infancy and Early Childhood</i></searchLink>. 2026 47(1).
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 13
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+Children%22">Preschool Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Skills%22">Language Skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Behavior%22">Child Behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Metacognition%22">Metacognition</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reflection%22">Reflection</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Behavior+Modification%22">Behavior Modification</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Receptive+Language%22">Receptive Language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Management%22">Self Management</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Acquisition%22">Language Acquisition</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Children%22">Children</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Australia%22">Australia</searchLink>
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  Label: Assessment and Survey Identifiers
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Mullen+Scales+of+Early+Learning%22">Mullen Scales of Early Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Child+Behavior+Checklist%22">Child Behavior Checklist</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
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  Data: 10.1002/imhj.70028
– Name: ISSN
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  Data: 0163-9641<br />1097-0355
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Dysregulation in early childhood is associated with increased vulnerability to psychopathology and poor psychosocial outcomes. While there is evidence that both child language ability and parental mentalization are associated with dysregulation in early childhood, there is little understanding of the relationships between these variables, and minimal research has been conducted in clinical samples. This study tested the association between child language ability (using the Mullens Scale of Early Learning) and child dysregulation (using the Child Behavior Checklist Dysregulation Profile), and examined whether parental mentalization (operationalized as Parental Reflective Functioning and Mind-Mindedness, assessed using Diamond Maternal Reflective Functioning Scale and interactional 20-min play sessions, respectively) mediated this relationship, in a clinical sample of 90 mother-child dyads (child M age = 19.48 months, SD = 3.15) referred to a specialized community-based child behavior treatment clinic located in Sydney, Australia. Results showed that greater child receptive language and better parental reflective functioning were associated with lower rates of child dysregulation. Contrary to expectation, however, parental mentalization did not mediate the relationship between child language and dysregulation. These findings suggest that clinically, children with dysregulation may benefit from interventions targeting receptive language and parental reflective functioning; however, further research in this area is required.
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  Data: 2026
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  Label: Accession Number
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  Data: EJ1493630
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        Value: 10.1002/imhj.70028
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    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Preschool Children
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Language Skills
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      – SubjectFull: Child Behavior
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      – SubjectFull: Receptive Language
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