Positive Association Between Reported Childhood Peer Teasing and Adult Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms

Abstract

The link between Borderline Personality Disorder and childhood maltreatment is well established, although little research has explored abuse outside the familial environment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between adult borderline symptomatology and childhood peer teasing in a non-clinical sample. Two hundred and twelve participants (M = 30.64 years, range 18 to 73; 76 % female) completed questionnaires assessing levels of current borderline symptomatology and retrospectively reported childhood abuse and teasing. Regression supported the hypothesis that childhood peer teasing would be significantly associated with adult borderline symptomatology, even after controlling for depression and other forms of childhood abuse. This unique finding highlights the importance of looking beyond familial influences when investigating Borderline Personality Disorder risk factors. Further research is needed to corroborate these findings and explore other sources of toxic childhood experience.