Predicting effects of borderline personality symptoms and self‐concept and identity disturbances on internet addiction, depression, and suicidality in college students: A prospective study

Abstract

The aims of this study were to evaluate the predicting effects of borderline personality symptoms and self-concept and identity disturbances on internet addiction, significant depression, and suicidality among college students at follow-up assessments conducted 1 year later. A sample of 500 college students aged between 20 and 30 years participated in this study. Their levels of borderline personality symptoms, self-concept and identity disturbances, internet addiction, depression, and suicidality at baseline and at follow-up interviews were assessed through the Borderline Symptoms List, Self-concept and Identity Measure, Chen Internet Addiction Scale, Beck Depression Inventory-II, and questions related to suicidality from the Epidemiological version of the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia, respectively. A total of 324 college students received follow-up assessments 1 year later. Among them, 15.4%, 27.5%, and 17% had internet addiction, significant depression, and suicidality, respectively. Our result revealed the severity of borderline symptoms, disturbed identity, unconsolidated identity, and lack of identity at initial assessment increased the occurrence of internet addiction, significant depression, and suicidality at follow-up assessment except for the predictive effect of unconsolidated identity on internet addiction. The results indicated that self-concept and identity and borderline symptoms may have a significant role in the risk of mental health problems in college students.