Epistemic trust and social networks in adolescents
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring how epistemic trust and mentalizing are related to trauma, psychopathology, and perceptions of helping relationships in adolescents
IRAS ID
327053
Contact name
Peter Fonagy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2023/05/132 health research, Data protection number
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
A growing body of evidence suggests that epistemic trust and mentalising can be effectively improved through therapeutic interventions. Given the barriers that many young people face in engaging with therapy, it is particularly important that these concepts be explored within an adolescent sample. To date, research has not been able to ascertain how epistemic trust might develop in the context of individual therapeutic relationships in adolescents. This research will hopefully provide further understanding about the role that epistemic trust plays in the formation of the therapeutic alliance - specifically providing insight into the factors that influence the clients’ perceptions of the alliance. Further, it is important to acknowledge that adolescents often have a number of professional and social relationships to navigate beyond the therapeutic dyad or caregiving contexts. Though it is widely accepted that the systems around a young person play a significant role in their lives, there is still very little empirical evidence about how adolescents engage with their broader social networks. There is therefore a need to explore the nature of the relationships beyond the adolescent-therapist dyad. There is limited research into how adolescents engage with their social networks and whether this changes following psychological intervention.
This study aims to gain a clearer picture of both the professional (therapeutic) and personal social networks that surround adolescents and whether the quality of these change over the course of therapeutic intervention. It will use a mix of quantitative and qualitative approaches to assess this. An improved understanding of this could provide key information for services to adapt and better meet their needs, which ultimately could mean that more young people could benefit from vital intervention at this vulnerable stage of life.REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
23/NS/0064
Date of REC Opinion
1 Aug 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion