An Evaluation of Age-Group Latent Mean Differences in Maladaptive Identity in Adolescence

Abstract

Little is known about the differences between age groups in maladaptive personality function as denoted in Criterion A of the Alternative Model for Personality Disorder (AMPD) in the DSM-5, which is the entry criterion for diagnosing personality disorder in the upcoming ICD-11. The current study aimed to address this gap by evaluating latent mean age group differences in maladaptive identity, which is one aspect that has been identified as an important feature of maladaptive, general personality function as represented in the DSM-5 and ICD-11. We were also interested whether mean differences would track with mean differences in borderline personality disorder (BPD) features given prior data suggesting that general personality function overlap with the construct of BPD. A community sample of N = 2,381 adolescents, representing a mix of different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, ages 12-18 (M = 14.92, SD = 1.94; 46% male) completed a measure of maladaptive identity. A subset (n = 1,165) completed a measure of borderline personality features. Latent variable modeling was used to evaluate latent mean differences across seven age bands. Results suggested a normative increase in maladaptive identity after age 12, which remained consistent until age 17 when it dropped back to levels observed in 12-year-olds. Maladaptive identity was significantly associated with mean-level increases in borderline personality features, with these constructs becoming more closely associated with increasing age.

Personality pathology in adolescence: relationship quality with parents and peers as predictors of the level of personality functioning

“…Previous evidence on maladaptive personality traits suggest that features of personality pathology emerge in early adolescence, reach their peak in middle adolescence, and then decrease as adolescents enter adulthood [50]. Similarly, recent research revealed the normative increase in maladaptive identity throughout adolescence, which was closely related to increases in borderline personality features, especially for older adolescents [51]. However, our data catches the wider scope of general severity in personality functioning rather than discrete personality features so it is possible that even though personality features might change, the general level of personality functioning follows a more complex pattern of change.…”

A borderline personality assessment for adolescents: Validity and reliability of the Chinese languages borderline personality features scale (short form version) for adolescents/children

“…Over the last decade, many studies have employed the BFSFC-SF to screen personality features of adolescents ( 39 – 43 ). For example, Biberdzic et al used the BFSFC-SF to assess adolescents' core domains of functioning; Barkauskiene et al used BFSFC-SF to screen adolescent borderline personality features to provided information for the established DSM-V. Hendriks et al used the BFSFC-SF to explore the psychopathological correlates of implicit and explicit shame and guilt; Sharp et al used the BFSFC-SF to investigate maladaptive identity formation in adolescence.…”

Operationalizing intimacy and identity aspects of personality functioning in relation to personality disorder in adolescents

“…Against this background, we expected a significant association between intimacy (perceived parental closeness) and identity diffusion so that greater distance in perceived parental closeness (i.e., less feelings of parental closeness) would be associated with higher levels of identity diffusion. We also expected identity diffusion to relate to borderline features-a finding which has already been established in adolescence (53)(54)(55).…”