Self–Structure and Childhood Maltreatment: Successful Compartmentalization and the Struggle of Integration

Abstract

This study examined the self-structure (compartmentalization, self-complexity, and differential importance) of college students who reported maltreatment events before age 15. The focus was on emotional and sexual maltreatment, although physical maltreatment was taken into account. Only individuals who reported high sexual and high emotional events displayed the integrative self-structures expected of individuals with chronically salient negative self-aspects. Individuals who reported only sexual maltreatment had more compartmentalized self-structures than individuals with low (or no) maltreatment events. Follow-up analyses suggested that within maltreated individuals, compartmentalized self-structures were associated with lower levels of distress and defenses than were integrative self-structures, especially among those who reported only sexual events. The relatively poor adjustment of individuals with integrative self-structures is interpreted here as a sign of ongoing struggle with the negative self-beliefs that accompany maltreatment. Recent approaches to the self-concept have emphasized both the content of self-knowledge and its organizational structure (Kihlstrom, Beer, & Klein, 2003; Showers & Zeigler-Hill, 2003). Structural models typically identify processes that moderate the impact of specific 473

Self-concept structure and borderline personality disorder: Evidence for negative compartmentalization

“…A study with non-clinical individuals suggests that individuals who reported a history of sexual abuse before the age of 15 had higher levels of compartmentalization than individuals with few (or no) abuse events (Showers, Zeigler-Hill, & Limke, 2006). However, in this study, borderline personality traits (assessed with the Borderline Features Scale of the Personality Assessment Inventory, Morey, 1991) were not associated with a more compartmentalized self-concept structure.…”

“…Thus, we hypothesize that patients with BPD exhibit more compartmentalized self-concepts than non-clinical individuals. Although one finding with nonclinical students appears to suggest that borderline personality features are unrelated to compartmentalization (Showers et al, 2006), findings from studies using non-clinical samples might not be an appropriate proxy for a clinical sample of patients diagnosed with BPD (Schechter, Strasser, Santangelo, Kim, & Edicott, 1994). For instance, BPD patients may differ from non-clinical controls on both quantitative and qualitative levels.…”

Interactive Effects of Childhood Maltreatment and Recent Stressful Life Events on Alcohol Consumption in Adulthood

“…before age 15 (Young-Wolff et al, 2011b). This operationalization of childhood maltreatment (i.e., combining physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect) is commonly used in maltreatment research (e.g., Topitzes et al, 2009;Zielinski, 2009), and the age cutoff of 15 years is consistent with many prior investigations of childhood maltreatment (e.g., Dervic et al, 2006;Gibb et al, 2001;Showers et al, 2006).…”

Self-Structure and Self-Esteem Stability: The Hidden Vulnerability of Compartmentalization

“…Showers & Zeigler-Hill, in press;Showers, Zeigler-Hill, & Limke, 2006). The present studies have 1-to 2-week time frames and so they treat evaluative organization at Time 1 as a predictor without assuming that this structure is stable.…”