At the Junction of Clinical and Developmental Science: Associations of Borderline Identity Disturbance Symptoms With Identity Formation Processes in Adolescence

Abstract

Developmental scientists describe the role confusion that can occur for adolescents as they are forming a personal identity. Clinical psychologists describe low self-worth, lack of self-clarity, feelings of emptiness, and dissociation as the key elements of identity disturbance, and they link these to borderline personality disorder. In this study, the authors aimed to work at the juncture of these approaches by considering interrelations between four elements of identity disturbance, typical identity formation processes reflective of identity commitment and confusion, and borderline features. Australian youth (N = 505, 63% female and aged 12-20 years) recruited from clinical and community settings reported on identity commitment, exploration and reconsideration, four elements of identity disturbance, and borderline features. Identity confusion (especially reconsideration) and disturbance were associated with elevated borderline symptoms. Emptiness stood out as the strongest correlate of borderline symptoms. Youth reporting greater emptiness were nearly twice as likely to report a high borderline symptom profile.