Borderline Personality Disorder and Its Relationship with Abuse Experiences Among a Sample of Taiz University Students

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the level of borderline personality disorder (BPD) traits and abuse experiences among students at Taiz University, investigate the relationship between these variables, determine the predictive contribution of the dimensions of abuse experiences to borderline personality disorder, and identify differences in both variables according to gender and socioeconomic status. The study employed a descriptive correlational design and was conducted on a sample of 411 undergraduate students from Taiz University. Data were collected using a 24-item Borderline Personality Disorder Scale and a 33-item Abuse Experiences Scale, both of which demonstrated satisfactory validity and reliability.

The findings revealed that the overall level of abuse experiences among the participants was low, whereas the level of borderline personality disorder traits was moderate. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between abuse experiences and borderline personality disorder (r = .547, p < .001). Multiple regression analysis indicated that psychological abuse was the strongest predictor of borderline personality disorder, followed by physical abuse, whereas neglect and sexual abuse did not make significant independent contributions after controlling for the effects of the other dimensions. Significant differences were also found in some study variables according to gender and socioeconomic status. The study recommends strengthening preventive and psychological counseling programs in universities and promoting the early identification of students exposed to abuse experiences to reduce their adverse psychological consequences.