Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is associated with distress in and dissolution of romantic relationships. BPD is a relational disorder. The complex interaction between BPD and romantic relationships continues to warrant further attention, as decreased BPD symptoms are associated with increased relational effectiveness. The current study was one of the first qualitative studies that used dyadic data to examine the experience and impact of BPD on couples' relationships.
Semi-structured conjoint interviews were conducted with couples with a partner with BPD (N = 10) using interpretative phenomenology. This study provides a rich understanding of the experiences of couples with BPD by exploring not only how BPD impacts couples' romantic relationships, but how couples cope with BPD. Although BPD was experienced as a relational stressor, couples utilized resources to buffer against the impact of BPD in their relationship.
Three superordinate themes emerged from the data that illustrate the couple experience of navigating BPD: (a) the individual lived experience of BPD, (b) the shared experience of BPD as a relational stressor, and (c) adaptive dyadic coping in the context of BPD. Dyadic coping and shared externalization emerged as key factors in adaptive couple functioning in the context of BPD. The lived experiences of these couples provide therapists and other couples with an increased understanding of the resources and skills that support successful dyadic coping with BPD. / Master of Science / Borderline personality disorder (BPD) imposes significant stress on romantic relationships. BPD is associated with increased distress in and dissolution of romantic relationships. However, individuals in recovery from BPD report high relationship satisfaction. Decreased BPD symptoms are associated with increased relational effectiveness, but it is less clear whether reducing BPD symptoms leads to greater relational effectiveness or if relational effectiveness reduces symptoms of BPD. To better understand the complex relationship between BPD and romantic relationships, conjoint interviews were conducted with couples who were navigating the management of BPD. Ten semi-structured conjoint interviews were analyzed using interpretative phenomenology. Three themes emerged from the data that illustrate the couple experience of navigating BPD: (a) the individual lived experience of BPD, (b) the shared experience of BPD as a relational stressor, and (c) adaptive dyadic coping in the context of BPD.
Dyadic coping and shared externalization emerged as key factors in adaptive couple functioning in the context of BPD. Couples navigating BPD benefit from many of the same couple coping strategies that other couples utilize to manage common stressors in life.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/110394 |
| Date | 01 June 2022 |
| Creators | O'Leary, Abigail Margaret |
| Contributors | Adult Learning and Human Resource Development, Landers, Ashley Lace, Jackson, Jeffrey Brown, Ferrill, Jasmine |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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