Borderline personality features as a predictor of forms and functions of aggression during middle childhood: Examining the roles of gender and physiological reactivity

The present longitudinal investigation examined borderline personality features as a predictor of aggression 1 year later. Moderation by physiological reactivity and gender was also explored. One hundred ninety-six children (M = 10.11 years, SD = 0.64) participated in a laboratory stress protocol in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Development and psychopathology 2014-08, Vol.26 (3), p.789-804
Main Authors: Banny, Adrienne M., Tseng, Wan-Ling, Murray-Close, Dianna, Pitula, Clio E., Crick, Nicki R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aggression - physiology
Aggression - psychology
Aggressiveness
Blood Pressure - physiology
Borderline Personality Disorder - physiopathology
Borderline Personality Disorder - psychology
Child
Children & youth
Emotions - physiology
Female
Galvanic Skin Response - physiology
Gender
Heart Rate - physiology
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Male
Peer Group
Personality disorders
Physiology
Regular Articles
Sex Factors
Stress
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Summary:The present longitudinal investigation examined borderline personality features as a predictor of aggression 1 year later. Moderation by physiological reactivity and gender was also explored. One hundred ninety-six children (M = 10.11 years, SD = 0.64) participated in a laboratory stress protocol in which their systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and skin conductance reactivity to recounting a relational stressor (e.g., threats to relationships or exclusion) were assessed. Teachers provided reports on subtypes of aggressive behavior (i.e., reactive relational, proactive relational, reactive physical, and proactive physical), and children completed a self-report measure of borderline personality features. Path analyses indicated that borderline personality features predicted increases in reactive relational aggression and proactive relational aggression among girls who evinced heightened physiological reactivity to interpersonal stress. In contrast, borderline personality features predicted decreases in proactive physical aggression in girls. Findings suggest that borderline personality features promote engagement in relationally aggressive behaviors among girls, particularly in the context of emotional dysregulation.
ISSN:0954-5794
1469-2198
DOI:10.1017/S095457941400039X