Maladaptive behaviours in adolescence and their associations with personality traits, emotion dysregulation and other clinical features in a sample of Italian students: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Emotion Dysregulation (ED), childhood trauma and personality are linked to the occurrence of maladaptive behaviours in adolescence which, in turn, may be related to increased risk for psychopathology in the life course. We sought to explore the relationship among the occurrence of different clusters of maladaptive behaviours and ED, clinical features (i.e. impulsivity, childhood maltreatment, anxiety, depressive symptoms) and personality traits that have been found to be associated to Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), in a sample of 179 adolescent students. Methods Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) was applied to detect clustered types of maladaptive behaviours and groups of students were defined as individuals engaging in these clustered behaviours (non-suicidal self-injury-NSSI, binge eating, binge drinking, cannabis use, and sexual risk behaviours). Logistic models were used to evaluate the association among clinical scales, and student groups. Mediation analysis was used to evaluate whether clinical features affected the association between personality traits and student groups. Results MCA analysis allowed to identify three student groups: NSSI/binge eating (NSSI-BE) behaviours, other maladaptive behaviours and “none”. Higher scores in ED, impulsivity, childhood maltreatment, anxiety and depressive symptoms increased the risk of belonging to the cluster of NSSI-BE behaviours compared to the other two groups. ED, depression and anxiety symptoms were found to be mediators of the relationship between specific personality traits, mainly pertaining to the negative affectivity construct, and NSSI/BE. Conclusions Individuals engaging in NSSI-BE behaviours represent a vulnerable adolescent population. ED, depression and anxiety were mediators of the relationship between a variety of personality traits related to BPD and NSSI and binge eating behaviours. Findings have important clinical implications in terms of prevention and interventions among adolescents engaging in self-damaging behaviours.

Binge drinking at time of bariatric surgery is associated with liver disease, suicides, and increases long-term mortality

“…These results can be explained from a psychopathological point of view since patients with binge behaviors (BD and binge eating) have predisposition to act impulsively, with an increase in the likelihood of asocial behaviors, intentional injuries, and suicide attempts. 45 46 In line with other series, CVD was the leading cause of mortality in patients without BD. 47 Our study implies the need to increase awareness and an adequate evaluation of mental health disorders related to alcohol in the setting of bariatric procedures before and after surgery.…”

“…A notable finding is the significantly higher prevalence of suicide in patients with BD compared to other US series of bariatric patients 27 and the general population. These results can be explained from a psychopathological point of view since patients with binge behaviors (BD and binge eating) have predisposition to act impulsively, with an increase in the likelihood of asocial behaviors, intentional injuries, and suicide attempts 45,46 . In line with other series, CVD was the leading cause of mortality in patients without BD 47 .…”

Global prevalence and characteristics of non-suicidal self-injury between 2010 and 2021 among a non-clinical sample of adolescents: A meta-analysis

“…Despite these slight variations in findings, there is no doubt that the prevalence of NSSI is high worldwide. Adolescence is a sensitive and vulnerable period of time in which a person learns methods of internalizing and externalizing emotions, and a wide range of problematic behaviors can develop as a result of learning unhealthy coping mechanisms ( 77 ). Adolescents who have trouble expressing emotions and feelings may project a depressed mood characterized by impulsive and irritable self-injury and self-mutilation.…”

Risk and protective factors associated with mental health status in an Italian sample of students during the fourth wave of COVID-19 pandemic

“…Interestingly, in our sample the UCLA scores were not particularly high, but its effect on mental health status seems to be strong. Furthermore, the link between the occurrence of risky behaviors such as self-harm and binge eating, and poor mental health is well documented [ 41 , 86 ], as well as for gender differences [ 21 , 57 , 84 ]. A recent longitudinal study [ 55 ] including a pre-post pandemic evaluation found that after controlling for baseline mental health status, those adolescents reporting an increase in self-harm, binge-drinking, aggressiveness, and binge-eating were more likely to present a worsened mental health status.…”