Abstract
The link between Borderline Personality Disorder and childhood maltreatment is well established, although little research has explored abuse outside the familial environment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between adult borderline symptomatology and childhood peer teasing in a non-clinical sample. Two hundred and twelve participants (M = 30.64 years, range 18 to 73; 76 % female) completed questionnaires assessing levels of current borderline symptomatology and retrospectively reported childhood abuse and teasing. Regression supported the hypothesis that childhood peer teasing would be significantly associated with adult borderline symptomatology, even after controlling for depression and other forms of childhood abuse. This unique finding highlights the importance of looking beyond familial influences when investigating Borderline Personality Disorder risk factors. Further research is needed to corroborate these findings and explore other sources of toxic childhood experience.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Washington: Author.
Antony, M. M., Bieling, P. J., Cox, B. J., Enns, M. W., & Swinson, R. P. (1998). Psychometric properties of the 42-item and 21-item versions of the depression anxiety stress scales in clinical groups and a community sample. Psychological Assessment, 10(2), 176–181.
Arntz, A., Dreessen, L., Schouten, E., & Weertman, A. (2004). Beliefs in personality disorders: a test with the personality disorder belief questionnaire. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 42, 1215–1225.
Aron, A., Aron, E. N., & Coups, E. J. (2006). Statistics for psychology (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Beck, A. T., Freeman, A., et al. (2004). Cognitive therapy of personality disorders. New York: Guilford Press.
Benas, J. S., & Gibb, B. E. (2008). Weight-related teasing, dysfunctional cognitions, and symptoms of depression and eating disturbances. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 32, 143–160.
Bender, D. S., & Skodol, A. E. (2007). Borderline personality as a self-other representational disturbance. Journal of Personality Disorders, 21(5), 500–517. Retrieved from http://proquest-.umi-.com-.ezproxy-.lib-.rmit-.edu-.au/pqdlink-?did=1368722351-&sid=1-&Fmt=3-&clientId=16532-&RQT=309-&VName=PQD.
Bernstein, D. P. (2002). Cognitive therapy of personality disorders in patients with histories of emotional abuse or neglect. Psychiatric Annals, 32(10), 618–631. Retrieved from http://proquest-.umi-.com-.ezproxy-.lib-.rmit-.edu-.au/pqdlink-?did=233851521-&sid=4-&Fmt=1-&clientId=16532-&RQT=309-&VName=PQD.
Berstein, D. P., & Fink, L. (1998). Childhood trauma questionnaire: A retrospective self-report. San Antonio: Psychological Corporation.
Bhar, S. S., Brown, G. K., & Beck, A. T. (2008). Dysfunctional beliefs and psychopathology in borderline personality disorder. Journal of Personality Disorders, 22(2), 165–177. Retrieved from http://proquest-.umi-.com-.ezproxy-.lib-.rmit-.edu-.au/pqdlink-?did=1462780331-&sid=7-&Fmt=3-&clientId=16532-&RQT=309-&VName=PQD.
Brodsky, B. S., Malone, K. M., Ellis, S. P., Dulit, R. A., & Mann, J. J. (1997). Characteristics of borderline personality disorder associated with suicidal behavior. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 154(12), 1715–1719. Retrieved from http://proquest-.umi-.com-.ezproxy-.lib-.rmit-.edu-.au/pqdlink-?did=23935687-&sid=4-&Fmt=4-&clientId=16532-&RQT=309-&VName=PQD.
Brown, G. R., & Anderson, B. (1991). Psychiatric morbidity in adult inpatients with childhood histories of sexual and physical abuse. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 148(1), 55–61. Retrieved from http://proquest-.umi-.com-.ezproxy-.lib-.rmit-.edu-.au/pqdlink-?did=1776973-&sid=2-&Fmt=2-&clientId=16532-&RQT=309-&VName=PQD.
Carr, S., & Francis, A. (2009a). Childhood familial environment, maltreatment and borderline personality disorder symptoms in a non-clinical sample: a cognitive behavioural perspective. Clinical Psychologist, 13(1), 28–37.
Carr, S., & Francis, A. (2009b). Childhood maltreatment and adult personality disorder symptoms in a non-clinical sample. Australian Psychologist, 44(3), 146–155. doi:10.1080/00050060903136847.
Clarkson, J. J., Hirt, E. R., Jia, L., & Alexander, M. B. (2010). When perception is more than reality: the effects of perceived versus actual resource depletion on self-regulatory behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 98, 29–46.
Claussen, A. H., & Crittenden, P. M. (1991). Physical and psychological maltreatment: relations among types of maltreatment. Child Abuse & Neglect, 15, 5–18. doi:10.1016/0145-2134(91)90085-R.
Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioural sciences (2nd ed.). Hillsdale: Erlbaum.
Crick, N. R., & Bigbee, M. A. (1998). Relational and overt forms of peer victimization: a multiinformant approach. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 66(2), 337–347. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.66.2.337.
Faith, M. A., Storch, E. A., Roberti, J. W., & Ledley, D. R. (2008). Recalled childhood teasing among non-clinical, non-college adults. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 30, 171–179. doi:10.1007/s10862-007-9062-0.
Fertuck, E. A., Marsano-Jozefowicz, S., Stanley, B., Tryon, W. W., Oquendo, M., Mann, J. J., & Keilp, J. G. (2006). The impact of borderline personality disorder and anxiety on neuropsychological performance in major depression. Journal of Personality Disorders, 20(1), 55–70.
Field, A. (2009). Discovering statistics using SPSS (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications.
Gibb, B. E., Alloy, L. B., Abramson, L. Y., & Marx, B. P. (2003). Childhood maltreatment and maltreatment-specific inferences: a test of Rose and Abramson’s (1992)extension of the hopelessness theory. Cognition and Emotion, 17(6), 917–931. doi:10.1080/02699930244000237.
Giesen-Bloo, J., & Arntz, A. (2005). World assumptions and the role of trauma in borderline personality disorder. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 36, 197–208. doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2005.05.003.
Glenn, C. R., & Klonsky, E. D. (2009). Emotion dysregulation as a core feature of borderline personality disorder. Journal of Personality Disorders, 23(1), 20–28. Retrieved from http://proquest-.umi-.com-.ezproxy-.lib-.rmit-.edu-.au/pqdlink-?did=1659946931-&sid=1-&Fmt=2-&clientId=16532-&RQT=309-&VName=PQD.
Goldman, S. J., D'Angelo, E. J., DeMaso, D. R., & Mezzacappa, E. (1992). Physical and sexual abuse histories among children with borderline personality disorder. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 149(12), 1723–1726. Retrieved from http://proquest-.umi-.com-.ezproxy-.lib-.rmit-.edu-.au/pqdlink-?did=5032603-&sid=6-&Fmt=2-&clientId=16532-&RQT=309-&VName=PQD.
Grilo, C. M., Wilfley, D. E., Brownell, K. D., & Rodin, J. (1994). Teasing, body image, and self-esteem in a clinical sample of obese women. Addictive Behaviors, 19(4), 443–450. doi:10.1016/0306-4603(94)90066-3.
Grover, K. E., Carpenter, L. L., Price, L. H., Gagne, G. G., Mello, A. F., Mello, M. F., et al. (2007). The relationship between childhood abuse and adult personality disorder symptoms. Journal of Personality Disorders, 21(4), 442–447. Retrieved from http://proquest-.umi-.com-.ezproxy-.lib-.rmit-.edu-.au/pqdlink-?did=1319963951-&sid=4-&Fmt=3-&clientId=16532-&RQT=309-&VName=PQD.
Hawker, D. S. J., & Boulton, M. J. (2000). Twenty years research on peer victimization and psychosocial maladjustment: a meta-analytic review of cross-sectional studies. The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 41(4), 441–455. doi:10.1111/1469-7610.00629.
Hawthorne, G., & Elliot, P. (2005). Imputing cross-sectional missing data: comparison of common techniques. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 39(7), 583–590.
Herman, J. L., Perry, J. C., & van der Kolk, B. A. (1989). Childhood trauma in borderline personality disorder. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 146(4), 490–495. Retrieved from http://proquest-.umi-.com-.ezproxy-.lib-.rmit-.edu-.au/pqdlink-?did=1776538-&sid=2-&Fmt=2-&clientId=16532-&RQT=309-&VName=PQD\.
Inc, S. P. S. S. (2007). SPSS 16.0 for Windows (Version 16.0) [Computer software]. Chicago: Author.
Johnson, J. G., Cohen, P., Brown, J., Smailes, E. M., & Bernstein, D. P. (1999). Childhood maltreatment increases risk for personality disorders during early adulthood. Archives of General Psychiatry, 56, 600–606. Retrieved from http://archpsyc.amaassn.org.ezproxy.lib.rmit.edu.au/cgi/content/abstract/56/7/600
Johnson, J. G., Smailes, E. M., Phil, M., Cohen, P., Brown, J., & Bernstein, D. P. (2000). Associations between four types of childhood neglect and personality disorder symptoms during adolescence and early adulthood: findings of a community-based longitudinal study. Journal of Personality Disorders, 14(2), 171–187. Retrieved from http://proquest-.umi-.com-.ezproxy-.lib-.rmit-.edu-.au/pqdlink-?did=800237261-&sid=1-&Fmt=2-&clientId=16532-&RQT=309-&VName=PQD.
Johnson, J. G., Cohen, P., Smailes, E. M., Skodol, A. E., Brown, J., & Oldham, J. (2001). Childhood verbal abuse and risk for personality disorders during adolescence and early adulthood. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 42(1), 16–23. doi:10.1053/comp.2001.19755.
Koenigsberg, H. W., Harvey, P. D., Mitropoulou, V., Schmeidler, J., New, A. S., Goodman, M., Siever, L. J. (2002). Characterizing affective instability in borderline personality disorder. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 159(5), 784–788. Retrieved from http://proquest-.umi-.com-.ezproxy-.lib-.rmit-.edu-.au/pqdlink-?did=119268331-&sid=3-&Fmt=2-&clientId=16532-&RQT=309-&VName=PQD.
Ledley, D. R., Storch, E. A., Coles, M. E., Heimberg, R. G., Moser, J., & Bravata, E. A. (2006). The relationship between childhood teasing and later interpersonal functioning. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 28(1), 33–40. doi:10.1007/s10862-006-4539-9.
Lobbestael, J., Arntz, A., & Sieswerda, S. (2005). Schema modes and childhood abuse in borderline and antisocial personality disorders. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 63, 240–253. doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2005.05.006.
Lovibond, S. H., & Lovibond, P. F. E. (1995). Manual for the depression, anxiety, and stress scales (2nd ed.). Sydney: Psychological Foundations.
MacMillan, H. L., Fleming, J. E., Streiner, D. L., Lin, E., Boyle, M. H., Jamieson, E., … Beardslee, W. R. (2001). Childhood abuse and lifetime psychopathology in a community sample. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 158(11), 1878–1883. Retrieved from http://proquest-.umi-.com-.ezproxy-.lib-.rmit-.edu-.au/pqdlink-?did=90837672-&sid=3-&Fmt=2-&clientId=16532-&RQT=309-&VName=PQD.
McGirr, A., Paris, J., Lesage, A., Renaud, J., & Turecki, G. (2009). An examination of DSM-IV borderline personality disorder symptoms and risk for death by suicide: A psychological autopsy study. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 54(2), 87–92. Retrieved from http://proquest-.umi-.com-.ezproxy-.lib-.rmit-.edu-.au/pqdlink-?did=1655230961-&sid=1-&Fmt=3-&clientId=16532-&RQT=309-&VName=PQD.
McHoskey, J. W. (2001). Machiavellianism and personality dysfunction. Personality and Individual Differences, 31, 791–798. doi:10.1016/S0191-8869(00)00187-2.
Modestin, J., Erni, T., & Oberson, B. (1998). A comparison of self-report and nterview diagnoses of DSM-III-R personality disorders. European Journal of Personality, 12, 445–455. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1099-0984 (199811/12)12:6<445::AID-PER339>3.0.CO;2-Q.
Murphy, K. R., & Davidshofer, C. O. (2001). Psychological testing: Principles and applications (5th ed.). New Jersey: Prentice hall.
Ogata, S. N., Silk, K. R., Goodrich, S., Lohr, N. E., Westen, D., & Hill, E. M. (1990). Childhood sexual and physical abuse in adult patients with borderline personality disorder. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 147(8), 1008–1013. Retrieved from http://proquest-.umi-.com-.ezproxy-.lib-.rmit-.edu-.au/pqdlink-?did=1776763-&sid=4-&Fmt=1-&clientId=16532-&RQT=309-&VName=PQD.
Paivio, S. C., & Cramer, K. M. (2004). Factor structure and reliability of the childhood trauma questionnaire in a canadian undergraduate student sample. Child Abuse & Neglect, 28, 889–904. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2004.01.011.
Paris, J. (2007). The nature of borderline personality disorder: Multiple dimensions, multiple symptoms, but one category. Journal of Personality Disorders, 21(5), 457–473. Retrieved from http://proquest-.umi-.com-.ezproxy-.lib-.rmit-.edu-.au/pqdlink-?did=1368722371-&sid=1-&Fmt=3-&clientId=16532-&RQT=309-&VName=PQD.
Pollock, V. E., Briere, J., Schneider, L., Knop, J., Mednick, S. A., & Goodwin, D. W. (1990). Childhood antecedents of antisocial behavior: parental alcoholism and physical abusiveness. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 147(10), 1290–1293.
Reichborn-Kjennerud, T., Czajkowski, N., Røysamb, E., Ørstavik, R. E., Neale, M. C., Torgersen, S., & Kendler, K. S. (2010). Major depression and dimensional representations of DSM-IV personality disorders: a population-based twin study. Psychological Medicine, 40, 1475–1484. doi:10.1017/S0033291709991954.
Roth, D. A., Coles, M. E., & Heimberg, R. G. (2002). The relationship between memories for childhood teasing and anxiety and depression in adulthood. Anxiety Disorders, 16, 149–164. doi:10.1016/S0887-6185(01)00096-2.
Shearer, S. L., Peters, C. P., Quaytman, M. S., & Ogden, R. L. (1990). Frequency and correlates of childhood sexual and physical abuse histories in adult female borderline inpatients. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 147(2), 214–216. Retrieved from http://proquest-.umi-.com-.ezproxy-.lib-.rmit-.edu-.au/pqdlink-?did=1776676-&sid=3-&Fmt=2-&clientId=16532-&RQT=309-&VName=PQD.
Silk, K. R., Lee, S., Hill, E. M., & Lohr, N. E. (1995). Borderline personality disorder symptoms and severity of sexual abuse. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 152(7), 1059–1064. Retrieved from http://proquest-.umi-.com-.ezproxy-.lib-.rmit-.edu-.au/pqdlink-?did=7035938-&sid=5-&Fmt=1-&clientId=16532-&RQT=309-&VName=PQD.
Soloff, P. H., Lynch, K. G., Kelly, T. M., Malone, K. M., & Mann, J. J. (2000). Characteristics of suicide attempts of patients with major depressive episode and borderline personality disorder: a comparative study. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 157(4), 601–608.
Soloff, P. H., Lynch, K. G., & Kelly, T. M. (2002). Childhood abuse as a risk factor for suicidal behavior in borderline personality disorder. Journal of Personality Disorders, 16(3), 201–214.
Spitzer, R. L., Williams, J. B. W., & Gibbon, M. (1987). SCID personality questionnaire. New York: New York State Psychiatric Institute.
Storch, E. A., & Ledley, D. R. (2005). Peer victimization and psychosocial adjustment in children: current knowledge and future directions. Clinical Pediatrics, 44, 29–38. doi:10.1177/000992280504400103.
Storch, E. A., Roth, D. A., Coles, M. E., Heimberg, R. G., Bravata, E. A., & Moser, J. (2004). The measurement and impact of childhood teasing in a sample of young adults. Anxiety Disorders, 18, 681–694. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2003.09.003.
Streiner, D. L. (2003). Being inconsistent about consistency: when coefficient alpha does and doesn’t matter. Journal of Personality Assessment, 80, 217–222. doi:10.1207/S15327752JPA8003_01.
Sturrock, B. A., Francis, A., & Carr, S. (2009). Avoidance of affect mediates the effect of invalidating childhood environments on borderline personality symptomatology in a non-clinical sample. Clinical Psychologist, 13(2), 41–51.
Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2001). Using multivariate statistics (4th ed.). New York: HarperCollins.
Tragesser, S. L., & Lippman, L. G. (2005). Teasing: for superiority or solidarity. The Journal of General Psychology, 132(3), 255–266.
Tragesser, S. L., Lippman, L. G., Trull, T. J., & Barrett, K. C. (2008). Borderline personality disorder features and cognitive, emotional, and predicted behavioral reactions to teasing. Journal of Research in Personality, 42, 1512–1523. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2008.07.003.
Trull, T. J., & Durrett, C. A. (2005). Categorical and dimensional models of personality disorder. Annual Review Clinical Psychology, 1, 355–380.
Trull, T. J., Widiger, T. A., & Guthrie, P. (1990). Categorical versus dimensional status of borderline personality disorder. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 99(1), 40–48. doi:10.1037/0021-843X.99.1.40.
Weaver, T. L., & Clum, G. A. (1993). Early family environments and traumatic experiences associated with borderline personality disorder. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 61(6), 1068–1075. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.61.6.1068.
Widom, C. S., & Morris, S. (1997). Adult recollections of childhood victimization: Part 2. Childhood sexual abuse. Psychological Assessment, 9(1), 34–36. doi:10.1037/1040-3590.9.1.34.
Widom, C. S., Czaja, S. J., & Paris, J. (2009). A prospective investigation of borderline personality disorder in abused and neglected children followed up into adulthood. Journal of Personality Disorders, 23(5), 433–446.
Zanarini, M. C., Williams, A. A., Lewis, R. E., Reich, R. B., Vera, S. C., Marino, M. F., et al. (1997). Reported pathological childhood experiences associated with the development of borderline personality disorder. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 154(8), 1101–1106.
Zanarini, M. C., Frankenburg, F. R., Dubo, E. D., Sickel, A. E., Trikha, A., Levin, A., & Reynolds, V. (1998a). Axis I comorbidity of borderline personality disorder. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 155(12), 1733–1739.
Zanarini, M. C., Frankenburg, F. R., Dubo, E. D., Sickel, A. E., Trikha, A., Levin, A., & Reynolds, V. (1998b). Axis II comorbidity of borderline personality disorder. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 39(5), 296–302. doi:10.1016/S0010-440X(98)90038-4.
Zanarini, M. C., Frankenburg, F. R., Khera, G. S., & Bleichmar, J. (2001). Treatment histories of borderline inpatients. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 42(2), 144–150. doi:10.1053/comp.2001.19749.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Stitt, N., Francis, A.J.P., Field, A.M. et al. Positive Association Between Reported Childhood Peer Teasing and Adult Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms. Journ Child Adol Trauma 8, 137–145 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-015-0045-0
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-015-0045-0