Linking Adverse Childhood Experiences to Borderline Personality Disorder Features.: The Role of Attachment Anxiety and Perceived Social Support

Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) have been consistently mentioned as risk factor for the development of borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, the exact developmental pathways, as well as the question how the severity and type of abuse and neglect are related to different features of BPD, are still not well understood. An important underlying mechanism might be an insecure attachment, while perceived social support is believed to function as protective factor. Thus, the present study examined the predictive effects of distinct ACE on individual BPD features, and the role of attachment anxiety and perceived social support in linking ACE to BPD. Questions were investigated using multivariate, mediation, and moderated mediation analyses in a large, diverse sample of international participants (N = 1966). Differential effects of distinct ACE were found with emotional abuse demonstrating the strongest effects on all four BPD features. Attachment anxiety mediated the...Show moreAdverse childhood experiences (ACE) have been consistently mentioned as risk factor for the development of borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, the exact developmental pathways, as well as the question how the severity and type of abuse and neglect are related to different features of BPD, are still not well understood. An important underlying mechanism might be an insecure attachment, while perceived social support is believed to function as protective factor. Thus, the present study examined the predictive effects of distinct ACE on individual BPD features, and the role of attachment anxiety and perceived social support in linking ACE to BPD. Questions were investigated using multivariate, mediation, and moderated mediation analyses in a large, diverse sample of international participants (N = 1966). Differential effects of distinct ACE were found with emotional abuse demonstrating the strongest effects on all four BPD features. Attachment anxiety mediated the relationship, while no moderated mediation effect in combination with perceived social support was observed. Given these findings, the prevention of ACE seems critical and should be regarded as first-line intervention in stopping the vicious cycle of BPD symptom manifestation. Still, adequate treatment with a focus on developing secure attachment could be beneficial to counterbalance the effects of ACE.Show less

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Linking Adverse Childhood Experiences to Borderline Personality Disorder Features. The Role of Attachment Anxiety and Perceived Social Support