Research article summary (published 30 May 2009):

Adult attachment, personality traits, and borderline personality disorder features in young adults.

Full Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated that insecure attachment patterns and a trait disposition toward negative affect and impulsivity are both associated with borderline personality disorder (BPD) features. According to attachment theory, insecure attachment patterns impart greater risk for the maladaptive personality traits underlying BPD. Hence, insecure attachment might be indirectly related to BPD through its association with these traits. The current cross-sectional study used structural equation modeling to compare two competing models of the relationship between adult attachment patterns, trait negative affect and impulsivity, and BPD features in a large nonclinical sample of young adults: (M1) attachment anxiety and avoidance are positively related to trait negative affect and impulsivity, which in turn, are directly associated with BPD features; and (M2) trait negative affect and impulsivity are positively related to attachment anxiety and avoidance, which in turn, are directly associated with BPD features. Consistent with attachment theory, M1 provided a better fit to the data than M2. However, only attachment anxiety, and not attachment avoidance, was significantly associated with negative affect and impulsivity. The results favored a model in which the relationship between adult attachment anxiety and BPD features is fully mediated by trait negative affect and impulsivity.

Author information

Author/s: Scott, Lori N (LN); Levy, Kenneth N (KN); Pincus, Aaron L (AL);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, 545 Moore Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA. lscott(-atsign-)psu.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Journal of personality disorders (J Pers Disord), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Jun; vol 23 (issue 3) : pp 258-80

Dates: Created 2009/06/22; Completed 2009/09/30;

PMID: 19538081, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 9/30/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Affect Anxiety Disorders - diagnosis; epidemiology; psychology Borderline Personality Disorder - diagnosis; epidemiology; psychology Cross-Sectional Studies Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Female Humans Impulse Control Disorders - diagnosis; epidemiology; psychology

Impulse Control Disorders - diagnosis; epidemiology; psychology Interpersonal Relations Male Object Attachment Personality Inventory Severity of Illness Index Sex Factors Young Adult

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