EMOTION REGULATION PROFILING IN INDIVIDUALS WITH BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER COMPARED TO NON-CLINICAL SAMPLE

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to evaluate the cognitive emotion regulation profiles of individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). This was a cross-sectional study comprising 350 participants. The sample was divided into two subgroups of individuals with BPD and a non-clinical subgroup. The study employed purposive sampling technique to select sample of BPD (n=150) and age, gender and education matched control group participants (n=200). Participants were assessed on Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire to assess their reliance on maladaptive and adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies. Data analysis was performed using SPSS for the interpretation of data. Descriptive analysis and t-tests assessed the differences between two groups. Findings showed that individuals with BPD clinical group of patients with BPD scored significantly higher on all four maladaptive strategies of self-blame, other-blame, rumination, catastrophizing. While on adaptive strategies including positive reappraisal, refocus on planning, positive refocus, acceptance, clinical group participants reported lower scores compared to their nonclinical counterparts. In conclusion, the individuals with BPD present emotional dysregulation and poor affective regulation mechanisms. The findings have several implications for theory, practice, and clinicians.