Being bullied in childhood: correlations with borderline personality in adulthood

• Published in: Comprehensive psychiatry Vol. 51; no. 5; pp. 458 - 461
• Main Authors: Sansone, Randy A, Lam, Charlene, Wiederman, Michael W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.09.2010; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Biological and medical sciences; Borderline Personality Disorder - psychology; Bullying - psychology; Children & youth; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health care; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Mental health; Middle Aged; Midwestern United States; Personality disorders; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Studies; Teenagers; United States; North America; America; Midwestern United States; United States > US; Human; Social environment; Borderline; Use; Mental health; Victimization; Infantile experience; Health service; Personality disorder; Psychological harassment; Symptomatology; Treatment; Cross sectional study; Young adult; Adult; Elderly; Public health; Antecedent
• ISSN: 0010-440X; 1532-8384
• DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2010.02.002

Abstract Objective This study was designed to explore correlations between a history of being bullied in childhood and borderline personality disorder (BPD) in adulthood, several externalizing behaviors, and mental health care utilization. Method Using a cross-sectional consecutive sample of internal medicine outpatients (N = 414), we examined the relationship between history of being bullied in childhood and 2 measures of BPD: the borderline personality scale of the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire–4 and the Self-Harm Inventory. We also explored whether having ever been bullied was related to a number of externalizing behaviors (eg, rage reactions, road rage, excessive spending, alcohol and substance misuse, binge eating) as well as greater mental health care utilization. Results In this study, a history of being bullied in childhood demonstrated statistically significant correlations with both measures of BPD as well as a number of externalizing behaviors and the measures for mental health care utilization. Conclusions A history of being bullied in childhood demonstrates a positive correlation with BPD in adulthood, externalizing behaviors, and mental health care utilization. Although this does not necessarily imply causality, the nature of this relationship warrants further investigation.