Attachment style and schema as predictors of social functioning in youth with borderline features

Abstract

ABSTRACTTheorized associations between adverse attachment experience, maladaptive core schema (EMS) and the interpersonal dysfunction seen as characteristic of borderline personality disorder were investigated in two groups of outpatient youth aged between 15 and 25 years. Patients with sub‐syndromal (meeting at least 3 DSM‐IV criteria) and full syndrome BPD (n = 30) and patients with major depressive disorder completed self‐report measures of adult attachment style, EMS and interpersonal functioning. Results for both groups indicated a level of disadvantage for each of the domains assessed. Contrary to prediction, mean scores for the two groups did not differ for anxious or avoidant attachment style or for 13 or the 15 EMS assessed. BPD participants scored at a significantly higher level for the Mistrust/abuse and Entitlement schema. Consistent with results reported for adult samples, the BDP group acknowledged a predominantly anxious attachment style, a wide range of EMS and poor interpersonal functioning. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses undertaken for each EMS domain in turn indicated that an anxious attachment style and endorsement of the Social Isolation EMS were the strongest predictors of social functioning. Against, prediction, there was limited evidence supporting the specificity of theorized relationships between BPD diagnosis and attachment style and prominence of Disconnection and Rejection domain EMS. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.