A Network Analysis of Inner Strength Among University Students with Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms

Inner strength is increasingly recognized as a protective factor in mental health, but its structure and dynamics remain underexplored, particularly in individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptoms. This study applied network analysis to investigate the complex relationships among inner strengths in individuals exhibiting BPD symptoms, aiming to identify core and bridging strengths that could inform targeted interventions. The sample comprised 346 Thai university students (25.4% males, 74.6% females; mean age = 21.60 ± 2.24 years) who screened positive for BPD symptoms using the Screening Instrument for Borderline Personality Disorder. Network analysis revealed that inner strengths formed an interconnected system with both core and peripheral features. The strongest association was observed between generosity and loving-kindness. A cognitive behavioral cluster comprising perseverance, wisdom, and determination also emerged. Centrality analysis identified loving-kindness as the most influential node in terms of direct connections, while equanimity exhibited the highest bridge centrality. Generosity and determination demonstrated the greatest expected influence. A negative link between truthfulness and equanimity highlighted a potential conflict between absolute honesty and inner balance in this population. Notably, exploratory analyses by gender revealed distinct network structures. In males, determination, wisdom, and precept emerged as central strengths; however, results for males should be interpreted with caution due to sample size. In females, perseverance, loving-kindness, and meditation were the most influential. These gender-specific patterns suggest that targeting different core strengths according to gender may enhance the effectiveness of interventions for individuals with BPD symptoms. Overall, the findings suggest that fostering specific inner strengths, particularly equanimity, loving-kindness, and those identified as central for each gender, may enhance psychological resilience and inform more tailored intervention strategies for BPD.