The role of brain activation and inhibition systems on self- Destructive behaviors with the mediating role of emotional dysregulation in teenage girls with borderline personality

Abstract

Introduction: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition characterized by instability in mood and interpersonal relationships. These patients are on the border between neurosis and psychosis. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the role of Behavioral Inhibition Systems/Behavioral Activation Systems in self-destructive behaviors in female vocational school students with BPD according to the mediating role of emotional dysregulation. Method: The research had a descriptive-correlational method, and its statistical population consisted of all female students with BPD at technical and vocational schools in an educational district of Tehran. 176 students were selected using the purposive sampling method. Data collection tool included Jackson and Claridge's Borderline Personality Disorder Scale (1991), Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral Activation System Questionnaire by Carver and White (1994), Self-Destructive Behaviors Questionnaire by Sansone et al. (1998), and Difficulties in emotion regulation scale by Gratz and Roemer (2004). Data were analyzed using the PLS-SEM method with SmartPLS software. Results: The indirect effect of BIS/BAS on self-destructive behaviors with a mediating role of emotional dysregulation was -0.553 and significant (p<0.05). The direct effect of BIS/BAS on emotional dysregulation was -0.436 and significant (p< 0.05). Furthermore, the direct effect of BIS/BAS on self-destructive behaviors was -0.504 and significant (p<0.05), and the direct effect of emotional dysregulation on self-destructive behaviors was 0.506 and significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: There was a significant relationship between behavioral activation and inhibition systems with self-destructive behaviors according to a mediating role of emotional dysregulation.

Keywords

• neural inhibition
• mental processes
• self-injurious behaviors
• emotional disturbances