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. 2013 Aug;22(3):220-9.

Temperament and Maltreatment in the Emergence of Borderline and Antisocial Personality Pathology during Early Adolescence

Martina Jovev  1 , Trudi McKenzie, Sarah Whittle, Julian G Simmons, Nicholas B Allen, Andrew M Chanen
Affiliations

Temperament and Maltreatment in the Emergence of Borderline and Antisocial Personality Pathology during Early Adolescence

Martina Jovev et al. J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2013 Aug.

Abstract
in English, French

Objective: The present study utilized a prospective, longitudinal design to examine the role of temperament and maltreatment in predicting the emergence of borderline (BPD) and antisocial (ASPD) personality disorder symptoms during adolescence.

Method: Two hundred and forty-five children aged between 11 and 13 years were recruited from primary schools in Melbourne, Australia. Participants completed temperament, maltreatment, BPD and ASPD symptom measures, and approximately two years later, 206 participants were again assessed for BPD and ASPD symptoms.

Results: The findings indicate that childhood neglect is a significant predictor of an increase in BPD symptoms, while childhood abuse is a significant predictor of an increase in ASPD symptoms. Moreover, abuse and neglect acted as moderators of the relationship between temperament dimensions and increase in BPD and ASPD symptoms, respectively. Abuse was associated with an increase in BPD symptoms for children with low Affiliation, while neglect was associated with an increase in ASPD symptoms for children with low Effortful Control.

Conclusions: The current study contributes much needed prospective, longitudinal information on the early development of symptoms of BPD and ASPD, and supports importance of both temperamental and environmental factors in predicting the emergence of these mental health problems early in life.

Objectif: La présente étude a utilisé une méthode prospective longitudinale pour examiner le rôle du tempérament et de la maltraitance dans la prédiction de l’émergence des symptômes d’un trouble de la personnalité limite (TPL) et d’un trouble de la personnalité antisociale (TPA) durant l’adolescence.

Méthode: Deux cent quarante-cinq enfants de 11 à 13 ans ont été recrutés dans des écoles primaires de Melbourne, en Australie. Les participants ont répondu à des mesures des symptômes du tempérament, de maltraitance, du TPL et du TPA, et environ deux ans plus tard, 206 participants ont de nouveau été évalués pour les symptômes du TPL et du TPA.

Résultats: Les résultats indiquent que la négligence dans l’enfance est un prédicteur significatif d’une augmentation des symptômes de TPL, alors que l’abus dans l’enfance est un prédicteur significatif d’une augmentation des symptômes de TPA. En outre, l’abus et la négligence servaient de modérateurs à la relation entre les dimensions du tempérament et l’augmentation des symptômes de TPL et TPA, respectivement. L’abus était associé à une augmentation des symptômes de TPL pour les enfants ayant une faible affiliation, tandis que la négligence était associée à une augmentation des symptômes de TPA pour les enfants ayant un faible contrôle volontaire.

Conclusions: La présente étude apporte une information prospective et longitudinale très nécessaire sur le développement précoce des symptômes de TPL et de TPA, et confirme l’importance des facteurs du tempérament et de l’environnement pour prédire l’émergence de ces problèmes de santé mentale en début de vie.

Keywords: abuse; adolescence; neglect; personality; temperament.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Relationship between temperament and childhood neglect in predicting an increase in ASPD symptoms
Figure 2
Figure 2
Relationship between temperament and childhood abuse in predicting an increase in BPD symptoms
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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