Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

The Relationship Between Childhood Invalidation and Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms Through Rejection Sensitivity and Experiential Avoidance

Abstract Details

2022, Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), Xavier University, Psychology.
More research is needed in order to determine how childhood invalidation may contribute toward the development of borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptoms. Two possible mediators that may explain the relationship between childhood invalidation and BPD symptoms are rejection sensitivity and experiential avoidance. Previous researchers have found rejection sensitivity to mediate the relationship between parental rejection and BPD symptoms (Rosenbach & Renneberg, 2014), and experiential avoidance has consistently been found to be positively associated with BPD symptoms (e.g., Cavicchioli et al., 2015). It is possible that individuals with histories of childhood invalidation by parents may engage in experiential avoidance in order to cope with heightened rejection sensitivity, leading to the symptoms of BPD. The hypothesis for the current study was that childhood invalidation will significantly influence increased rejection sensitivity, which will significantly influence increased experiential avoidance, which then would significantly influence increased BPD symptoms. Using a cross-sectional and correlational design, a sample of 416 individuals ranging from ages 19 to 70 completed self-report measures of mother and father childhood invalidation, rejection sensitivity, experiential avoidance, and BPD symptoms through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk). The main hypothesis was fully supported in that childhood invalidation by both mother and father significantly influenced rejection sensitivity, which significantly influenced experiential avoidance, which then significantly influenced BPD symptoms. The results of this study highlight how two psychological processes, rejection sensitivity and experiential avoidance, further explain the relationship between childhood invalidation and BPD symptoms.
Nicholas Salsman, Ph.D., ABPP (Advisor)
Kathleen Hart, Ph.D., ABPP (Committee Member)
Christine Dacey, Ph.D., ABPP (Committee Member)
61 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Stadnik, R. D. (2022). The Relationship Between Childhood Invalidation and Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms Through Rejection Sensitivity and Experiential Avoidance [Doctoral dissertation, Xavier University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xupsy1631545806639478

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Stadnik, Ryan. The Relationship Between Childhood Invalidation and Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms Through Rejection Sensitivity and Experiential Avoidance. 2022. Xavier University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xupsy1631545806639478.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Stadnik, Ryan. "The Relationship Between Childhood Invalidation and Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms Through Rejection Sensitivity and Experiential Avoidance." Doctoral dissertation, Xavier University, 2022. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xupsy1631545806639478

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)