Abstract

This study examined whether disconnection/rejection schemas mediate the relationship between emotional maltreatment, emotional instability, and borderline personality traits. A total of three hundred and sixty-six undergraduate students (163 male and 203 female) completed a battery assessing emotional, maltreatment, emotional instability (ALS-SF), disconnection/rejection schemas (YSQ-SF) and borderline personality traits (PAI-BOR). Structural Equation Modeling was used to test the mediation effect of disconnection/rejection schemas. The results indicated that emotional maltreatment had a direct effect on borderline personality traits. Meanwhile, it had an indirect effect on borderline personality traits that were mediated by disconnection/rejection schemas. Emotional instability also had a direct effect on borderline personality traits. Concurrently, it had an indirect effect on borderline personality traits, which was mediated by disconnection/rejection schemas. In addition, a partial-mediation demonstrated a better model fit than the full-mediation model. By examining whether the relationship between environmental and temperamental factors and borderline personality traits was mediated by disconnection/rejection schemas, the results of this study allow as to understand development of borderline personality traits. Further, they highlight the importance of using a schema mode within the therapeutic intervention. Finally, the implications, limitations, and future direction of this study were suggested.