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A Critical Evaluation of the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (RFQ)

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Müller, Sascha, Wendt, Leon P., Spitzer, Carsten, Masuhr, Oliver, Back, Sarah N., Zimmermann, Johannes·2022·Journal of Personality Assessment

DOI 10.1080/00223891.2021.1981346

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Abstract

The Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (RFQ) is an 8-item self-report measure of reflective functioning that is presumed to capture individual differences in hypo- and hypermentalizing. Despite its broad acceptance by the field, we argue that the validity of the measure is not well-established. The current research elaborates on problems of the RFQ related to its item content, scoring procedure, dimensionality, and associations with psychopathology. We tested these considerations across three large clinical and non-clinical samples from Germany and the US (total N = 2289). In a first study, we found that the RFQ may assess a single latent dimension related to hypomentalizing but is rather unlikely to capture maladaptive forms of hypermentalizing. Moreover, the RFQ exhibited very strong associations with measures of personality pathology, while associations with measures of symptom distress were less strong. In a second preregistered study focused on convergent and discriminant validity, however, a commonality analysis indicated that associations with indicators of personality pathology are inflated because some of the RFQ items tap into emotional lability and impulsivity rather than mentalizing. Our findings demonstrate limitations of the RFQ. We discuss key challenges in assessing mentalizing via self-report.

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Authors: Müller, S., Wendt, L. P., Spitzer, C., Masuhr, O., Back, S. N., & Zimmermann, J.
Affiliations: University of Kassel (DE)
Universitätsmedizin Rostock (DE)
Asklepios Fachklinikum Tiefenbrunn (DE)
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE)
Corresponding author: Müller, Sascha
Wendt, Leon P.
ORCID: Müller, Sascha
Wendt, Leon P.
Spitzer, Carsten
Back, Sarah N.
Zimmermann, Johannes
Venue: Journal of Personality Assessment
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Published: 2021-10-01
Volume: 104
Issue: 5
Pages: 613-627
ISSN: 0022-3891 (ISSN-L)
1532-7752
DOI: 10.1080/00223891.2021.1981346
OpenAlex: W3161900958
Cited by: 138
References: 49
Citations by year: 2026: 35 · 2025: 31 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 7
FWCI: 12.19
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
doi.org
Licence: cc-by
Locations: Journal of Personality Assessment (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
Funders: World Health Organization
Universität Heidelberg
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
Keywords: reflective functioning, mentalization, personality pathology, psychopathology, emotional lability, impulsivity, convergent and discriminant validity, self-report measures, latent dimensionality
MeSH terms: Mentalization, Humans, Impulsive Behavior, Personality Disorders, Surveys and Questionnaires, Self Report

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A Critical Evaluation of the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (RFQ)

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