Borderline personality disorder traits and rates of NSSI during the COVID-19 pandemic: An initial investigation

Hilary L DeShong; Courtney K Mason; Kren Kelley; Sharon M Nelson; Chandler McDaniel

doi:10.1080/07448481.2023.2186139

Borderline personality disorder traits and rates of NSSI during the COVID-19 pandemic: An initial investigation

J Am Coll Health. 2023 Mar 22:1-11. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2023.2186139. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Hilary L DeShong¹, Courtney K Mason¹, Kren Kelley¹, Sharon M Nelson², Chandler McDaniel¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi State, USA.
² Department of Veterans Affairs, Serious Mental Illness Treatment Resource and Evaluation Center, Office of Mental Health Operations, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.

PMID: 36947750
DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2023.2186139

Abstract

Objective: The current study evaluated frequency of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and associated maladaptive traits between three time periods: pre-pandemic, early pandemic, and later pandemic. Participants: Two college student samples (n = 362; n = 337) were collected via two online studies. Method: Participants completed measures assessing maladaptive borderline personality traits, engagement in NSSI over the past month, and reasons for and types of NSSI engaged in across the lifetime. Results: Results demonstrated a stable and potentially a slight increase in general rates of NSSI over the course of the pandemic. Further, specific maladaptive traits that underly borderline personality disorder (i.e., despondence, fragility, self-disturbance, and anxious-uncertainty) were related to engagement in NSSI 1-month post COVID. Conclusion: The study highlights the need for added interventions that might reach at risk populations during these heightened periods of stress.

Keywords: Borderline personality traits; COVID-19; nonsuicidal self-injury.