title: The relation between attachment, personality, internalizing, and externalizing dimensions in adolescents with borderline personality disorder.
abstract: The relation between attachment and personality features is an important field to explore in adolescent borderline personality disorder (BPD), and previous research has shown that personality features may be conceptualized within latent internalizing and externalizing dimensions. This cross-sectional study used a structural equation model to examine the association between the BPD participants' perception of attachment and personality features, mediated by the underlying internalizing/externalizing personality dimensions. Data were analyzed for 60 adolescents, ages 15 to 18 years, diagnosed with BPD who completed attachment and personality self-report measures. The authors' results showed a good fit of the model, suggesting a significant association between attachment and the internalizing/externalizing dimensions, which simultaneously congregate and influence personality traits. The perception of attachment anxiety was positively related to the internalizing dimension and at the same time negatively related to the externalizing dimension. However, the perception of attachment avoidance was not related to internalizing or externalizing personality dimensions.
authors: William James Center for Research, ISPA - Instituto Universitário, Lisboa, Portugal, and in the Hospital Garcia de Orta, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, Almada, Portugal.
authors: Vera
authors: V
authors: Ramos
authors: Lisbon Psychiatric Hospital Center, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors: Guilherme
authors: G
authors: Canta
authors: National Institute of Public Health, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors: Filipa
authors: F
authors: de Castro
authors: William James Center for Research, ISPA - Instituto Universitário, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors: Isabel
authors: I
authors: Leal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment