The mental representation of attachment and narrative coherence in children with and without externalizing disorders

ABSTRACT

Externalizing behaviours are among the most prevalent reasons for a child referral to counselling centres. It has been documented that narrative coherence and mental representation of attachment to the caregivers, especially the mother, is the reason behind many problems in childhood. This study investigates and compares the mental representation of attachment and narrative coherence in children with and without externalizing disorders. The research method used in this study was a causal-comparative. After the primary screening of the participants, who were selected through convenience sampling, children were divided into two groups of with (N = 24) or without (N = 20) externalizing disorders. After administering the CBCL, children were assessed using the MacArthur Story Stem Battery. After test analysis, the result indicated that children in externalizing behaviour group scored statistically higher in negative mental representation, which scores lower in positive mental representation, as well as narrative coherence.

KEYWORDS:

• Mental representation of mother
• narrative coherence
• externalizing behaviours

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully thank the participants, without whom, this study would not have been possible. Many thanks are extended to parent for their time, patience and support of this endeavour.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.