Mapping Mentalizing Abilities among Parents of Offspring across a Diverse Range of Neurodevelopmental Conditions.

Introduction: Mentalizing is defined as the mental ability that enables individuals to perceive and interpret others' and their own attitudes and behavior in terms of intentional mental states. It is conceived as a complex, multidimensional construct underpinned by the integration of functional polarities and is inherently context and relationship-specific. Within this framework, mentalizing abilities in parents refer to the caregiver’s capacity to reflect on the child's internal mental states, recognizing the offspring as a separate, intentional agent. Limited research has focused on investigating this capacities among parents of children with Neurodevelopmental Conditions. The aim of the present scoping review is to provide an overview of studies on mentalization involving this specific parental population, alongside a critical appraisal of their methodological rigor. Methods: Twenty-nine studies were selected following a systematic search across PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The methodology of this scoping review was guided by the PRISMA-ScR framework. Results: Findings indicate that mentalizing abilities in parents are correlated with offspring developmental outcomes and mental health status. Furthermore, the potential of psychological interventions – both mentalization-based and alternative psychological approaches - in promoting this capacity is highlighted. Discussion: mentalizing is established as a fundamental process for underpinning offspring development and fostering the quality of relationships within the familial context. Cultivating and supporting this capacity provides significant benefits for the specific population of parents of offspring with neurodevelopmental conditions.