The buffer role of meaning in life in hopelessness in women with borderline personality disorders

Abstract

Meaning in life has been found to be a protective factor against suicidal ideation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether meaning in life can moderate and buffer the association between suicide risk factors and hopelessness in women with borderline personality disorders. One hundred twenty-four women diagnosed with borderline personality disorder completed self-report measures of suicide risk factors, hopelessness, and meaning in life. The main result from this study was that meaning in life moderated the association between suicide risk factors and hopelessness. Meaning in life is an important variable in the prevention and treatment of risk of suicide in women with borderline personality disorder.

Keywords: Borderline personality disorders; Existential meaning; Hopelessness; Personality; Psychotherapy; Suicidal behavior.