Retrospective reports of perceived parental invalidation and borderline personality traits: The indirect effect of personality functioning.

This study examined the indirect effect via Criterion A (personality functioning) of the Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD) in the relationship between retrospective reports of perceived parental invalidation and borderline personality traits measured by Criterion B (pathological personality traits). A total of 3,019 college students completed self-report scales of the Chinese Invalidating Family Scale, Level of Personality Functioning Scale-Brief Form 2.0, and Personality Inventory for DSM-5. It was found that the indirect effect of personality functioning was significant for the association between levels of perceived overall-B = 0.52, 95% CI [0.47, 0.57], maternal-B = 0.83, [0.75, 0.91], and paternal-B = 0.97, [0.87, 1.08] invalidation, and BPD traits. The outcomes of the research suggested the critical role of personality functioning as a potential mediator in the pathological effect of perceived parental invalidation on the development of borderline personality disorder features. While the study is limited by the use of self-report measurement, retrospective responding, and cross-sectional design, significant implications on the biosocial model and AMPD were discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).