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Cited by 39Personality Disorders and PsychopathologyChild Abuse and TraumaPsychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending

Reflective function mediates the relationship between emotional maltreatment and borderline pathology in adolescents: A preliminary investigation

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Quek, Jeremy, Newman, Louise K., Bennett, Clair, Gordon, Michael S., Saeedi, Naysun, Melvin, Glenn A.·2017·Child Abuse & Neglect
DOI 10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.08.008
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Abstract

Deficits in mentalizing, particularly within the context of attachment relationships i.e., reflective function (RF), are posited to result from childhood maltreatment and to influence the development of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Whilst a mentalization-based model of BPD provides a theoretical explanation, direct empirical support for this model, in linking childhood maltreatment to borderline pathology remains limited. This study examined the interrrelationships between childhood maltreatment, RF, and borderline pathology in a mixed adolescent sample, consisting of adolescents with BPD (n=26) and a group of non-clinical adolescents (n=25). With the aim of directly testing the mentalization-based model of BPD, we additionally investigated the influence of each form of childhood maltreatment within this developmental pathway. Self-report data supported the hypothesized indirect effect of childhood maltreatment on elevated borderline pathology through lowered RF in adolescents. Both emotional abuse and emotional neglect were found to indirectly influence borderline pathology through adolescent RF, however, only emotional abuse indirectly influenced borderline pathology through RF, after all other maltreatment types were controlled for. Findings support the promotion of mentalization, within attachment-related contexts, as an intervention target for adolescents with borderline pathology and as a potential target of prevention for at-risk children and adolescents with histories of childhood maltreatment, especially emotional abuse. Future research should delineate other underlying mechanisms, independent of RF, which may also link the influence of childhood maltreatment, and in particular, emotional abuse, to BPD.

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  • A case-control study with 26 adolescents (23 girls) diagnosed with BPD and 25 non-clinical controls found that the severity of emotional and physical abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse were associated with the severity of BPD symptoms, and higher order reflective function deficits partially mediated the relationship between emotional abuse and BPD symptom severity.

    “A case-control study with 26 adolescents (23 girls) diagnosed with BPD and 25 non-clinical controls found that the severity of emotional and physical abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse were associated with the severity of BPD symptoms, and higher order reflective function deficits (i.e., an aspect of executive control) partially mediated the relationship between emotional abuse and BPD symptom”

    From Complex PTSD and borderline personality disorder (2021) · cites this paper as [138]

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Authors
Quek, J., Newman, L. K., Bennett, C., Gordon, M. S., Saeedi, N., & Melvin, G. A.
Affiliations
  • Monash Health (AU)
  • Royal Women's Hospital (AU)
Corresponding author
Melvin, Glenn A.
ORCID
Venue
Child Abuse & Neglect
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2017-10
Volume
72
Pages
215-226
ISSN
0145-2134 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.08.008
OpenAlex
W2749268707
Cited by
39
References
75
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1
FWCI
2.37
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Child Abuse & Neglect (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending
Keywords
reflective functioning, mentalization, borderline personality disorder, childhood emotional abuse, emotional abuse, emotional neglect, adolescents, attachment, prevention
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Psychology, Adolescent, Borderline Personality Disorder, Child, Child Abuse, Child Abuse, Sexual, Emotions, Female, Humans, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Executive Function

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