Mapping the Role of Executive Functioning and Reflective Functioning in the Dimensional Model of Adversity and Psychopathology (DMAP): A Scoping Review Protocol

Abstract

This scoping review will map how executive functioning (EF) and reflective functioning (RF; mentalization) have been examined within the Dimensional Model of Adversity and Psychopathology (DMAP) among adolescents and young people aged 10–24 years. DMAP distinguishes threat (e.g., abuse, violence exposure) from deprivation (e.g., neglect, low cognitive or social stimulation) as distinct dimensions of early life adversity. Although EF has been linked mainly to deprivation, the position of RF within DMAP remains unclear, and no existing review has mapped both capacities together within this framework. The review will follow the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and will be reported according to PRISMA-ScR. Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, PubMed, and APA PsycINFO will be searched for open-access, peer-reviewed original research published in English from January 2014 to 2026, supplemented by citation searching. Two independent reviewers will screen records and chart data using a piloted form covering study characteristics, adversity operationalization, EF and RF measures, analytic roles (e.g., mediator, moderator), emotion regulation, internalizing and externalizing outcomes, and cultural adaptation of instruments. No critical appraisal will be conducted. Expected outputs include a descriptive numerical summary, a narrative summary organized by four review questions, and evidence maps identifying gaps in populations, study designs, geographic distribution, and measurement. At the time of registration, only a preliminary search for existing reviews has been conducted; the final database searches and screening have not yet begun.