Narrative Identity Characteristics and Personality Pathology: An Exploration of Associations From a Dimensional and Categorical Perspective in a Clinical Sample of Youth

Narrative identity, as an integral element of personality, has gained increased attention for understanding personality pathology. In this study, associations between narrative identity characteristics (i.e., event valence, theme, contextual coherence, thematic coherence, self-event connection valen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Personality disorders 2024-01, Vol.15 (1), p.11-21
Main Authors: Baaijens, Ben, Koster, Nagila, van Aken, Marcel, van der Heijden, Paul, Laceulle, Odilia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Child, Preschool
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Female
Human
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Narratives
Negative Emotions
Personality
Personality Development
Personality Disorders
Personality Disorders - diagnosis
Personality Inventory
Personality Traits
Psychodiagnosis
Surveys and Questionnaires
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Summary:Narrative identity, as an integral element of personality, has gained increased attention for understanding personality pathology. In this study, associations between narrative identity characteristics (i.e., event valence, theme, contextual coherence, thematic coherence, self-event connection valence, agency, and communion) and personality pathology were examined. Personality pathology was conceptualized as (a) levels of personality (dys)functioning and maladaptive personality traits, (b) six trait facet profiles, and (c) categorical DSM-5 (fifth edition of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) diagnoses. Data of 242 youth (Mage = 18.79; SDage = 2.65) were collected as part of a longitudinal study on personality development. Narratives were assessed with turning point interviews, and trait and functioning levels with self-report questionnaires. The narrative identity characteristics of a negative valence, a negative self-event connection valence, low agency, and low communion were associated with higher levels of personality dysfunctioning, negative affectivity, detachment, and psychoticism. These characteristics were also associated with the borderline, avoidant, obsessive-compulsive, and schizotypal trait facet profiles. No associations were found when considering personality pathology from a categorical perspective. Findings may inspire researchers and clinicians to give personal stories a more central role in their work.
ISSN:1949-2715
1949-2723
1949-2723
DOI:10.1037/per0000638