The Prejudice toward People with Borderline Personality Disorder Scale in a healthcare provider sample

Although many instruments aiming to measure attitudes toward people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) exist, most demonstrate limited evidence of construct validity.

To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Prejudice toward People with Borderline Personality Disorder (PPBPD) scale in a sample of healthcare providers (HCPs) and expand the nomological network of prejudice toward people with BPD.

A survey containing the PPBPD scale and related measures was completed by 593 HCPs who provided services for people with BPD.

Confirmatory factor analysis supported the four-factor structure, comprising fear/avoidance, malevolence, authoritarianism, and unpredictability. Differential associations were found between the four PPBPD factors and correlates, such as knowledge of BPD, belief in treatment effectiveness and patient recovery, prior contact with patients who have BPD, and empathy.

The results provided evidence for the validity and psychometric properties of the PPBPD in a sample of HCPs and support its utility in measuring attitudes toward people with BPD. The expansion of the PPBPD's nomological network improves understanding of how this prejudice may be maintained, and reduced, in healthcare settings. This research will contribute to efforts in developing and implementing interventions to support HCPs and reduce prejudice toward people living with BPD.