Abstract

This study aimed to translate the Certainty About Mental States Questionnaire (CAMSQ; Müller et al., 2023) into Korean, validate it with a sample of counselors, and assess its applicability in Korean counseling practice. The CAMSQ is a self-report measure that evaluates how clearly and confidently individuals understand their own and others’ mental states. Data were gathered through an online survey involving counselors in counseling and clinical settings, with responses from 317 participants analyzed. To assess the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the scale, we conducted exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, correlation analyses, and hierarchical regression analyses using SPSS and AMOS. The results indicated that the Korean version of the CAMSQ is best represented by a two-factor structure—Self-Certainty (SC) and Other-Certainty (OC)—which aligns with the original scale, retaining a total of 15 items. The full scale demonstrated strong internal consistency (Cronbach's α=.91), with subscale reliabilities of .90 for Self-Certainty and .89 for Other-Certainty. Additionally, construct and criterion validity were supported by significant correlations with mentalization, borderline personality features, personality functioning, attachment styles, and mental health indicators. These findings affirm that the Korean CAMSQ is a reliable and valid tool for assessing certainty about mental states based on mentalization theory. The scale may prove to be a valuable resource for research on mentalization, as well as for counselor training and intervention studies in Korea. Finally, the study discuss its implications, limitations, and suggestions for future research.