Background: Emotions mostly depend on the context in which they are experienced. Given how important emotions are for our social life and relationships, they need to be understood and adequately...Show moreBackground: Emotions mostly depend on the context in which they are experienced. Given how important emotions are for our social life and relationships, they need to be understood and adequately regulated. However, not all people can regulate their feeling appropriately. In more recent research, emotions have been studied within their social context and regarding the impact they have on interpersonal relationships. This study attempted to examine if one of the reasons why people cannot regulate their emotions in interpersonal contexts may depend on the severity of childhood trauma and if these associations may contribute to borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptoms. Methods: Data from N=196 participants were collected via an online survey where they completed questionnaires regarding traumatic childhood experiences, interpersonal emotion regulation techniques and a self-report regarding borderline personality disorder symptoms. Results: Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that there was a statistically significant correlation between childhood trauma severity and interpersonal emotion regulation, aligning with the first hypothesis. The associations with BPD symptoms were different for each interpersonal emotion regulation factor. Conclusion: The findings suggest that childhood trauma can have lasting effects on emotional regulation abilities in interpersonal contexts and contribute to the manifestation of BPD symptoms.Show less
