Abstract
In this study, the authors explored whether attachment insecurity moderates the effects of adverse childhood experiences on stress reactivity in the context of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Participants were 113 women (39 with BPD, 15 with some BPD criteria present, 59 without any BPD symptoms) who participated in the Trier Social Stress Test. Saliva samples were collected before and after the stressor and assayed for salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) and cortisol. Adverse childhood experiences were measured using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, and attachment by the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised questionnaire. Results revealed that attachment avoidance and a combination of more adverse childhood experiences and attachment insecurity resulted in higher sAA levels and differences in reactivity to the stressor. Interactions between attachment anxiety and adverse childhood experiences were related to blunted cortisol reactivity. The results suggest that the influence of adverse childhood experiences on stress regulation in BPD may be moderated by attachment-related regulatory processes.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 93-114 |
| Number of pages | 22 |
| Journal | Journal of personality disorders |
| Volume | 32 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2018 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
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Attachment-related regulatory processes moderate the impact of adverse childhood experiences on stress reaction in borderline personality disorder. / Ehrenthal, Johannes C.; Levy, Kenneth; Scott, Lori N.; Granger, Douglas A.
In: Journal of personality disorders, Vol. 32, 01.01.2018, p. 93-114.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Attachment-related regulatory processes moderate the impact of adverse childhood experiences on stress reaction in borderline personality disorder
AU - Ehrenthal, Johannes C.
AU - Levy, Kenneth
AU - Scott, Lori N.
AU - Granger, Douglas A.
PY - 2018/1/1
Y1 - 2018/1/1
N2 - In this study, the authors explored whether attachment insecurity moderates the effects of adverse childhood experiences on stress reactivity in the context of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Participants were 113 women (39 with BPD, 15 with some BPD criteria present, 59 without any BPD symptoms) who participated in the Trier Social Stress Test. Saliva samples were collected before and after the stressor and assayed for salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) and cortisol. Adverse childhood experiences were measured using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, and attachment by the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised questionnaire. Results revealed that attachment avoidance and a combination of more adverse childhood experiences and attachment insecurity resulted in higher sAA levels and differences in reactivity to the stressor. Interactions between attachment anxiety and adverse childhood experiences were related to blunted cortisol reactivity. The results suggest that the influence of adverse childhood experiences on stress regulation in BPD may be moderated by attachment-related regulatory processes.
AB - In this study, the authors explored whether attachment insecurity moderates the effects of adverse childhood experiences on stress reactivity in the context of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Participants were 113 women (39 with BPD, 15 with some BPD criteria present, 59 without any BPD symptoms) who participated in the Trier Social Stress Test. Saliva samples were collected before and after the stressor and assayed for salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) and cortisol. Adverse childhood experiences were measured using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, and attachment by the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised questionnaire. Results revealed that attachment avoidance and a combination of more adverse childhood experiences and attachment insecurity resulted in higher sAA levels and differences in reactivity to the stressor. Interactions between attachment anxiety and adverse childhood experiences were related to blunted cortisol reactivity. The results suggest that the influence of adverse childhood experiences on stress regulation in BPD may be moderated by attachment-related regulatory processes.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85046803692&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85046803692&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1521/pedi.2018.32.supp.93
DO - 10.1521/pedi.2018.32.supp.93
M3 - Article
C2 - 29388902
AN - SCOPUS:85046803692
VL - 32
SP - 93
EP - 114
JO - Journal of Personality Disorders
JF - Journal of Personality Disorders
SN - 0885-579X
ER -