The Interaction of Temperament and Childhood Sexual Abuse in Predicting Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Christopher Robertson (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Rosemery Nelson-Gray

Abstract: This study examined how two of Rothbart's temperament variables (Rothbart & Derryberry, 1981), negative affect and effortful control, along with childhood sexual abuse, (CSA) predict borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptoms. It was hypothesized that increased negative affect, increased CSA, and their interaction would predict BPD symptoms. It was further hypothesized that this relationship would be mediated by lower levels of effortful control. Questionnaires assessing effortful control, negative affect, CSA, and BPD were administered to 215 female undergraduates. Structural equation modeling supported the first hypothesis, but not the second. The data indicated that the interaction was specific to BPD when compared to avoidant personality disorder. These results provide support for the theory that temperament interacts with the environment to produce BPD.

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
Language: English
Date: 2008
Keywords
Borderline Personality Disorder, Negative Affect, Negative Emotionality, Sexual Abuse, Temperament
Subjects
Borderline personality disorder $x Etiology.
Borderline personality disorder $x Risk factors.
Temperament.
Sexual abuse victims $x Mental health.
Self-control.
Self-management (Psychology).

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