Dysregulated eating behaviors in borderline personality disorder: are rejection sensitivity and emotion dysregulation linking mechanisms?
OBJECTIVE
Individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) often engage in dysregulated eating behaviors, such as binge-eating and purging. Rejection sensitivity, or the tendency to worry about and expect rejection in most situations, may be involved in this relationship by increasing the intensity and frequency of emotion dysregulation.


METHODS
Using a sample which included individuals diagnosed with BPD, a structural equation model was constructed using BPD symptoms and measures of rejection sensitivity, emotion dysregulation, and dysregulated eating behaviors.


RESULTS
The hypothesized model was supported in which BPD symptoms predicted high levels of rejection sensitivity, which then led to increased problems with emotion dysregulation and subsequent dysregulated eating behaviors. A significant indirect effect for rejection sensitivity on dysregulated eating behaviors, through emotion dysregulation, was found. This model also provided better fit than alternative models.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study indicate that those with BPD may be more sensitive to rejection, and these fears of rejection may result in increased emotion dysregulation and subsequent dysregulated eating behaviors. Appearance-relevant rejection sensitivity may be an important factor to explore in future research.
Selby
Edward A
EA
Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306-1270, USA.
Ward
Anne C
AC
Joiner
Thomas E
TE
D000293:Adolescent; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011594:Psychometrics; D012059:Rejection, Psychology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult