THE RELATION BETWEEN BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER FEATURES AND TEEN DATING VIOLENCE IN ADOLESCENCE: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY

Date

2012-12

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Abstract

Teen dating violence (TDV) is a serious social problem with significant physical and emotional consequences. A number of theoretical models have identified several factors associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) amongst adults, including the role of personality disorder features such as Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). However, little is known about borderline features and intimate partner violence amongst adolescents (i.e. TDV). The present study is the first to investigate the relation between TDV and borderline features in adolescents, taking into account important additional correlates of TDV at both the cross-sectional and longitudinal level. An ethnically diverse sample of N = 1,042 adolescents completed self-report measures of dating violence and borderline features, in addition to measures of substance use, hostility, and exposure to parental violence. Results showed that borderline features made independent contributions to TDV victimization, but not perpetration, at the cross-sectional level for females. At the longitudinal level, baseline and follow up TDV victimization and TDV perpetration were significantly higher for adolescents with borderline features compared to adolescents without borderline features. Borderline features should be considered in the assessment of TDV in order to aid with identification and treatment. Implications of the role of gender on TDV and future directions are discussed.

Description

Keywords

Adolescence, Borderline Personality Disorder, Teen dating violence

Citation