Study dataset.

IntroductionIn recent years, the concept of epistemic trust has emerged as a critical factor in understanding psychopathology, particularly within the context of personality disorders. A self-report instrument, the Epistemic Trust, Mistrust, and Credulity Questionnaire (ETMCQ), has demonstrated its validity among English and Italian adult populations. However, extending its applicability to adolescents is essential for comprehending the role of epistemic trust in the development of mental disorders. The aim of this study was to validate the ETMCQ within the Italian adolescent demographic.MethodsData were gathered from a wide selection of middle and high schools across Italy. The data collection started on 01/03/2022 and ended on 30/06/2022. Besides the ETMCQ (Study 1 = 662 participants, 12–18 years old, M = 15.56, SD = 2.20; 324 females, 338 males), we also administered other self-report instruments measuring mentalization, emotional dysregulation, general levels of psychopathology, and interpersonal trust in a smaller groups (Study 2 = 417 participants, aged from 12–19 years old, M = 15.64; SD = 2.08; 249 females, 168 males).ResultsOur findings provide empirical validation for the theoretical framework concerning the role of epistemic trust in psychological functioning and substantiate the validity of ETMCQ as a measure to assess it among teenagers.ConclusionsThe ETMCQ is a valid and promising instrument for adolescent populations; its ease and brevity of administration could make it a valuable tool both in clinical and research contexts, shedding light on the role of epistemic trust in mental health.

引言近年来，知识信任的概念在理解心理病理学，尤其是在人格障碍的背景下，已成为一个至关重要的因素。知识信任、怀疑与轻信问卷（Epistemic Trust, Mistrust, and Credulity Questionnaire，简称ETMCQ）在英语和意大利成年人群中已显示出其有效性。然而，将其适用范围扩展至青少年群体对于理解知识信任在心理疾病发展中的作用至关重要。本研究旨在验证ETMCQ在意大利青少年人群中的有效性。方法本研究数据来自意大利众多中学和高中。数据收集始于2022年1月1日，结束于2022年6月30日。除了ETMCQ（研究1中包含662名参与者，年龄在12至18岁之间，平均年龄为15.56岁，标准差为2.20；女性324名，男性338名）外，我们还对较小规模的参与者群体（研究2中包含417名参与者，年龄在12至19岁之间，平均年龄为15.64岁，标准差为2.08；女性249名，男性168名）进行了其他自我报告工具的测试，以测量心理化、情绪失调、一般心理病理学水平以及人际信任。结果我们的研究发现为关于知识信任在心理功能中作用的理论框架提供了实证验证，并证实了ETMCQ作为评估青少年知识信任水平的有效工具。结论ETMCQ是一种适用于青少年群体的有效且具有潜力的工具；其操作简便、时间短的特点使其在临床和研究环境中都成为一种宝贵的工具，有助于揭示知识信任在心理健康中的作用。