Borderline Personality Features in Adolescence Predict Dating Violence Perpetration in Early Adulthood

Abstract

Borderline personality pathology and intimate partner violence (including teen dating violence) are significant public health concerns that have been found to negatively affect well-being across the lifespan. Researchers have consistently shown that borderline personality pathology, both clinical and subclinical, can increase the likelihood of intimate partner violence perpetration and victimization in adulthood. There is less research on these associations in adolescence. Additionally, the developmental pathway of borderline personality pathology during adolescence is still not well defined, despite adolescence being a critical developmental window for personality pathology and for completing developmental tasks related to social connection and identity formation. Rooted in attachment, developmental biosocial, and differential susceptibility theories, I examined developmental trajectories of borderline personality features in adolescence (from ages 14 to18) in the prediction of dating violence experiences (victimization and perpetration) in early adulthood (ages 19 and 20) in a community sample. Using a longitudinal, person-centred design, three trajectories of borderline personality features were identified: low-, moderate-, and high-stable, with girls overrepresented in the high-stable group and boys overrepresented in the low-stable group. Contrary to expectations grounded in the extant literature, borderline personality feature trajectory group membership and dating violence victimization were not associated. However, high-stable borderline personality feature trajectory group membership and dating violence perpetration were linked. Gender and experiences of child maltreatment were also associated with dating violence victimization and perpetration, and a strong co-relation between perpetration and victimization was found. These results add to the literature on both borderline personality pathology and dating violence in adolescence and highlight the importance of early intervention. Possible avenues of intervention are explored, focusing on emotion regulation, mentalization, and family relationships.