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An Investigation of the Relationships among Negative Affect, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation, and Features of Borderline Personality Disorder

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Abstract

This study investigated the indirect effects of problematic emotion regulation on features of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) when accounting for negative affect in 456 participants from two distinct geographic regions. Participants completed the Affect Intensity Measure (AIM), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), and the Borderline Symptom List (BSL). Results from this study supported a model in which there were significant indirect effects of both a lack of emotional clarity and limited access to emotion regulation strategies on features of BPD when accounting for negative affective intensity. Results also supported a second model in which there were significant indirect effects of both limited access to emotion regulation strategies and difficulties engaging in goal-directed behavior on features of BPD when accounting for negative affective reactivity. The results highlight important inter-relationships among features of BPD, difficulties regulating emotions, and negative affective intensity and reactivity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Xavier University, 3800 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, OH, 45207-6511, USA

    Nicholas L. Salsman

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Marsha M. Linehan

Authors
  1. Nicholas L. Salsman
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  2. Marsha M. Linehan
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Correspondence to Nicholas L. Salsman.

Additional information

Nicholas L. Salsman, Ph.D., ABPP is an assistant professor of psychology in the department of psychology at Xavier University. His areas of expertise include Dialectical Behavior Therapy, borderline personality disorder, suicidal behaviors, and emotion regulation.

Marsha M. Linehan, Ph.D., ABPP is a professor of psychology in the department of psychology and director of the Behavioral Research and Therapy Clinics at the University of Washington. Her areas of expertise include Dialectical Behavior Therapy and the application of behavioral models to suicidal behaviors, drug abuse, and borderline personality disorder

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Salsman, N.L., Linehan, M.M. An Investigation of the Relationships among Negative Affect, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation, and Features of Borderline Personality Disorder. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 34, 260–267 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-012-9275-8

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