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Childhood Maltreatment and Borderline Personality Disorder: the mediating role of difficulties with emotion regulation

  • Nina Bertele
  • , Anat Talmon
  • , James J. Gross
  • , Christian Schmahl
  • , Marius Schmitz
  • , Inga Niedtfeld

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Exposure to childhood maltreatment (CM) increases the risk of developing borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, it remains unclear what mechanisms might mediate this link. One candidate of interest is difficulties with emotion regulation. This study aims to examine the pattern of relations among CM, difficulties with emotion regulation, and the risk of developing BPD. A total of 162 individuals diagnosed with current BPD and 162 matched healthy controls completed self-reported questionnaires assessing CM and difficulties with emotion regulation. The authors found high correlations between CM and BPD diagnosis (r = .73, p < .001). Difficulties with emotion regulation were found to mediate the link between CM and BPD diagnosis (p < .001). Results suggest that CM may play a key role in the etiology of BPD and that difficulties with emotion regulation might be a mediating component between CM and BPD.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)264-276
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Personality Disorders
Volume36
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2022
Externally publishedYes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
    SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Keywords

  • borderline personality disorder
  • childhood maltreatment
  • emotion regulation difficulties

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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