High rates of comorbidity and symptom overlap in child and adolescent psychiatry suggest the existence of a general psychopathology factor (p-factor) that underlies diverse mental health difficulties. Moving beyond categorical diagnostic systems, the p-factor framework provides a dimensional approach to understanding vulnerability and resilience across disorders. This study investigates the role of parental reflective functioning, adolescent executive functioning, resilience, and childhood trauma in relation to the p-factor in adolescence.


The sample consists of 150 adolescents aged 11-18 years, including a clinical group recruited from a child and adolescent psychiatry unit and a community control group, along with their parents. Both adolescents and parents completed standardized measures: the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire, Adolescent Executive Function Inventory, Resilience Scale for Children and Adolescents (ÇGPSÖ-12), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-33), and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Preliminary analyses were conducted using descriptive statistics and correlational tests, with confirmatory factor analysis planned to evaluate the dimensional structure of general psychopathology.


Preliminary findings indicate that adolescents in the clinical group demonstrate significantly higher p-factor scores compared to controls. Initial correlations suggest that parental reflective functioning is negatively associated with internalizing symptoms, whereas childhood trauma shows strong positive associations with overall psychopathology. Resilience appears to act as a protective factor, partially buffering the relationship between trauma and symptom severity.


This ongoing study is expected to clarify the mechanisms underlying the p-factor in adolescence and highlight the mediating role of mentalization and resilience. By integrating dimensional models with applied contexts, the study contributes to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, SDG 4: Quality Education, and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities). Full analyses and implications for intervention will be presented at ICAP 2026.