Coping strategies and emotional maladjustment in student population with traits of borderline personal disorder

Abstract

In article are presented the results of population research of the expressiveness (severity) of BPD traits in the student sample and their association with emotional disadaptation and various coping strategies. 60 students of psychological institution were examined (average age 21) by complex methodologies include scale dysfunctional beliefs Butler (Batler et al, 2002), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), (Beck et al, 1993) and coping strategies inventory (COPE Inventory, C. Carver, M. Shreier, J. Weintraub, 1989). Students with high and moderate expressiveness (severity) of BPD traits (only 37% of the sample) had significantly more expressed indicators of emotional disadaptation as symptoms of depression and anxiety compared to students who have these traits were poorly expressed or absent (63% of the sample). In the group of students with the expressed BPD traits the disadaptive coping strategies (mental avoidance, denial, substance use) occurred significantly more frequently as compared with the group without the expressed traits of BPD. The conclusion is that there are prevalence of BPD traits in the student population, there are close correlation of these traits with emotional disadaptation and destructive coping strategies, and the need for special training psychological assistance services in higher education system for working with this contingent.

Keywords

• student population
• borderline personality disorder
• coping strategies
• symptoms of depression and anxiety
• emotional disadaptation