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Seyed Abootalebi S S, Shiri E, Kakavand A, Rahimpour M. Childhood Trauma, Mentalization, and Obsessive–compulsive Symptoms: The Mediating Role of Personality Organization in University Students. Pract Clin Psychol 2026; 14 (4) :327-338
URL: http://jpcp.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-1095-en.html

Objective: This study examined the mediating role of personality organization in the relationships between childhood trauma, mentalization, and obsessive–compulsive symptoms in university students.
Methods: This cross-sectional correlational study employed structural equation modeling (SEM). Participants included 260 students recruited from Imam Khomeini International University in Qazvin City, Iran, using cluster random sampling. Data were collected using the Yale-Brown obsessive-compulsive scale, childhood trauma questionnaire-short form, reflective functioning questionnaire (RFQ), and Kernberg personality organization inventory. We performed statistical analyses using SPSS software, version 27 and AMOS software, version 24.
Results: Childhood trauma, mentalization, personality organization, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms showed significant associations within the proposed structural model. Mentalization and childhood trauma demonstrated both direct and indirect associations with obsessive-compulsive symptoms through personality organization. Similarly, personality organization statistically mediated the association between mentalization and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The final structural model demonstrated acceptable fit indices.
Conclusion: Findings suggest that childhood trauma and mentalization capacity are associated with personality organization, which in turn is related to obsessive-compulsive symptoms in a non-clinical student population. These findings provide preliminary, correlational evidence for the role of personality organization as a potential mediator; causal conclusions cannot be drawn.