Low feelings of meaning in life are associated with depression, hopelessness and suicide, substance abuse and emotional dysregulation. The aim of this study is to offer results about the importance of the construct meaning in life in the psychopathology of BPD. In study 1, the sample was made up of 223 participants, 141 participants with BPD and 82 participants with another mental disorder but without BPD. In study 2, the sample was made up of 80 participants with BPD. Study 1 indicated that the participants with BPD had a lower feeling of meaning in life than the participants with mental disorders but without a BPD. Study 2 indicated that meaning in life was highly negatively correlated with the symptoms of BPD. The model composed of emotional dysregulation, and meaning in life was significantly associated with BPD psychopathology. The present study supports the association between meaning in life with the psychopathology of BPD. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Key practitioner message: The results of this study suggest that meaning in life is a relevant variable in the psychopathology of BPD The results of this study suggest that meaning in life is associated with non-suicide self injuries This study suggests that current therapies for BPD should focus on increasing the meaning in life in these patients.
Keywords: Borderline Personality Disorder; Dialectical Behavioural Therapy; Emotional Dysregulation; Meaning in Life; Non Suicidal Self injuries; Psychopatology.
Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.