Correlates between Five-Factor Model traits and the Revised Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines dimensions in an...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Personality Science

Background:

• Extensive research links Five-Factor Model (FFM) traits (high neuroticism, low agreeableness, low conscientiousness) with borderline personality disorder (BPD) in adults.
• Studies on adolescent samples are less common, and few explore FFM traits in relation to specific BPD dimensions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the associations between FFM personality traits and BPD characteristics in a sample of adolescents.
• To investigate if established trait-BPD links in adults are applicable to adolescent populations.

Main Methods:

• Correlational analysis was used to assess relationships between FFM traits (NEO-Five-Factor Inventory) and BPD characteristics (Revised Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines - DIB-R).
• The study included 162 clinical and non-clinical adolescents.

Main Results:

• BPD dimensions showed significant associations with high neuroticism, low conscientiousness, and low agreeableness.
• A notable, though lesser, association was found with low extraversion.
• Limited specificity was observed between FFM traits and specific DIB-R dimensions, potentially due to intercorrelations among DIB-R scores.

Conclusions:

• Findings suggest that the association between personality traits and BPD characteristics observed in adults generally holds true for adolescents.
• These results have clinical implications for understanding and potentially intervening in adolescent BPD.