Different types of childhood trauma in relation to borderline personality traits and self-control in Chinese adolescents.

INTRODUCTION: The relationship among childhood trauma, borderline personality traits and self-control in adolescents has been established, but the specific impact of each type of childhood trauma remains to be elucidated. This study aims to explore how different types of childhood trauma are associated with borderline personality traits and self-control among adolescents in China. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 2,664 adolescents (M = 16.54 years, SD = 0.95) from a senior high school in Henan, China. Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form, Borderline Personality Dimension of Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4 and Self-Control Scale were used to evaluate childhood trauma, borderline personality traits, and self-control. RESULTS: The prevalence of borderline personality traits in Chinese adolescents was 12.00%. Borderline personality traits were negatively correlated with self-control. Emotional abuse, emotional neglect and physical neglect were significant positive predictors of borderline personality traits in adolescents. Emotional abuse and physical neglect were significant negative predictors of adolescents’ self-control. CONCLUSIONS: Emotional abuse and physical neglect are associated with​ emotional dysregulation and impulsive behavior in adolescents, which may, in turn, be linked to​exacerbated borderline personality traits and reducing self-control. Similarly, experiences of​ emotional neglect were found to be associated with​ disruptions in the development of emotional bonds in adolescents and may predict future borderline personality traits. These findings call for parental attention to children’s negative experiences and prompt educators to teach appropriate emotion regulation strategies.