Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2025
09:55
Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder
Published on: March 8, 2018
12.4K
Does self-compassion protect adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury from developing borderline features? A
Diogo Carreiras1, Paula Castilho1, Marina Cunha1,2
1Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioural Intervention, University Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health
|April 19, 2024
Summary
Adolescents with a history of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and low self-compassion showed increased borderline features over six months. Higher self-compassion may mitigate these psychological risks in vulnerable youth.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Adolescence is a critical period for the emergence of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and borderline personality features.
- Self-compassion, characterized by sensitivity to suffering and a desire to alleviate it, represents a healthier self-to-self relationship.
- NSSI and borderline features are psychologically related phenomena often emerging during adolescence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the moderating effect of self-compassion on borderline features over a six-month period in adolescents with a history of NSSI.
- To examine the relationship between baseline self-compassion, baseline borderline features, and the development of borderline features six months later.
- To understand how self-compassion influences the trajectory of psychological difficulties in a vulnerable adolescent population.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study involving 139 Portuguese adolescents with a history of NSSI at baseline.
- Follow-up assessment of 87 participants six months after the initial evaluation.
- Statistical analysis using SPSS and PROCESS Macro to test moderation models.
Main Results:
- The moderation model significantly explained 56% of the variance in borderline features at the six-month follow-up.
- A significant interaction was found between initial borderline features and low-to-medium levels of self-compassion.
- Adolescents with lower initial borderline features and low self-compassion exhibited increased borderline features six months later.
Conclusions:
- Lower levels of self-compassion are associated with a higher likelihood of developing or exacerbating borderline features in adolescents with a history of NSSI.
- Self-compassion appears to play a protective role, potentially mitigating the development of borderline features in this at-risk group.
- Interventions aimed at enhancing self-compassion may be beneficial for adolescents engaging in NSSI and exhibiting borderline traits.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
5.2K
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
5.2K
01:25Borderline Personality Disorder
40
Borderline Personality Disorder is a complex and multifaceted mental health condition characterized by pervasive instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, emotions, and impulse control. This instability manifests in extreme emotional reactions, fear of abandonment, and self-destructive behaviors. The disorder significantly impacts daily functioning, often leading to distress in both personal and professional domains.
Genetic and Environmental Contributions
Borderline Personality...
Genetic and Environmental Contributions
Borderline Personality...
40
01:27Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
31
Adolescents from ethnic minority backgrounds face a multifaceted journey in forming their identities, shaped by the intersections of cultural expectations and personal exploration. For these adolescents, identity formation involves not only typical developmental challenges but also navigating the perceptions and attitudes of the majority culture. As they grow, adolescents in ethnic minority groups often become increasingly aware of stereotypes, social biases, and discrimination, all of which...
31
01:18Cognitive Development During Adolescence
54
During adolescence, individuals experience significant cognitive development that enhances their understanding of others' emotions and thoughts, known as cognitive empathy. This period is marked by an increased ability to adapt to others' perspectives and a more nuanced understanding of others' mental states, a skill that is foundational for social problem-solving and conflict avoidance. The development of cognitive empathy relies heavily on the theory of mind — the...
54
02:05Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
39.0K
People can go to great lengths to protect their self-image and present themselves in ways that they want others to see them. Sociologist Erving Goffman presented the idea that a person is like an actor on a stage. Calling his theory dramaturgy, Goffman believed that we use “impression management” to present ourselves to others as we hope to be perceived. Each situation is a new scene, and individuals perform different roles depending on who is present (Goffman, 1959). Think about...
39.0K
01:17Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adolescence
100
Erik Erikson's fifth stage of psychosocial development, "identity versus role confusion," is crucial during adolescence (ages 12 to 18). In this stage, adolescents face the developmental task of forging a distinct personal identity, a process influenced by social, psychological, and biological changes typical of this period. Adolescents naturally explore different roles, behaviors, and ideologies as they navigate complex questions of self-concept, asking, "Who am I?" and...
100