The Association Between Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms and Social Behaviour Among University Students

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex psychiatric condition impacting emotional stability, self-image, and relationships.
• In university students, BPD traits may correlate with challenges in social adjustment and academic performance.
• Understanding BPD prevalence and its impact on students is vital for targeted mental health support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of borderline personality traits among Romanian university students.
• To investigate the association between these traits and interpersonal difficulties in family, romantic, and academic contexts.
• To identify specific borderline traits linked to social dysfunction in this population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 151 undergraduate students in Romania.
• Data collected via an online questionnaire assessing socio-demographics, DSM-based borderline traits, and social behaviors.
• Statistical analysis included Fisher's exact test and odds ratio (OR) with significance at p < 0.05.

Main Results:

• High rates of affective instability (71.5%) and distorted self-image (58.9%) were reported.
• Impulsivity (37.7%) and fear of abandonment (29.4%) were also prevalent.
• Borderline traits significantly correlated with relational anxiety, anger, peer conflict, social withdrawal, and dissociation, with ORs of 3-10 for social dysfunction (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

• The study highlights a significant prevalence of borderline traits and associated social/emotional difficulties in Romanian students.
• Findings emphasize the need for psychological screening and early intervention programs in universities.
• Creating a supportive academic environment and interdisciplinary collaboration are key for student mental well-being.