Social domain dysfunction and disorganization in borderline personality disorder.
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BACKGROUND: Social dysfunction in personality disorder is commonly ascribed to abnormal temperamental traits but may also reflect deficits in social processing. In this study, we examined whether borderline and avoidant personality disorders (BPD, APD) may be differentiated by deficits in different social domains and whether disorganization of social domain functioning uniquely characterizes BPD. METHOD: Patients were recruited from psychiatric clinics in Pittsburgh, USA, to provide a sample with BPD, APD and a no-personality disorder (no-PD) comparison group. Standardized assessments of Axis I and Axis II disorders and social domain dysfunction were conducted, including a new scale of 'domain disorganization' (DD). RESULTS: Pervasive social dysfunction was associated with a 16-fold increase in the odds of an Axis II disorder. Both APD and BPD were associated with elevated social dysfunction. Romantic relationship dysfunction was associated specifically with BPD symptoms and diagnosis. DD was associated specifically with a categorical BPD diagnosis and with a dimensional BPD symptom count. CONCLUSIONS: A focus on the inherently interpersonal properties of personality disorders suggests specific mechanisms (within and across interpersonal domains) that may help to account for the origins and maintenance of some disorders. In particular, BPD reflects disturbances in romantic relationships, consistent with a role for attachment processes, and in the organization of functioning across social domains. (+info)
The power of loving humane care in nursing.
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This study aimed to develop an approach about the power of humane care within the concept of nursing through the building of a theoretical structure. Spiegelberg's methodology was used to seek the meaning of the power of humane care for new nurses and for patients. The resulting theoretical structure is based on Parker's theory of power, Patterson and Zderad's humane care, Watson's theories and Larranaga's concept of love. The elements of this structure are: the nurse, the ill or healthy person, the environment and nursing, all bound by an affectionate humane care. The final reflection was that all of them are included within the technical-scientific paradigm of modernity and that the patients hope to be care for by humane nurses. (+info)
Alcohol-related sexual assault victimization among adolescents: prevalence, characteristics, and correlates.
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OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to document the prevalence and describe the characteristics of alcohol-related sexual assault among middle and high school students. METHOD: A Web-based, self-administered survey was used to collect data on 7th- through 12th-grade students (n = 1,037) in a large metropolitan area in the Midwest. A modified version of the Sexual Experiences Survey was used to ask students about their sexual victimization experiences so as to examine the involvement of alcohol within specific assault events. The sample was equally distributed by biological gender and ethnicity (white vs black) and was, on average (SD), 14 (2) years of age. RESULTS: Findings from the study indicate that alcohol was involved in approximately 12%-20% of the assault cases, depending on age and gender of the respondent. For females, the presence of alcohol during assault differed significantly based on the location at which the assault occurred, ranging from 6% (at the survivor's home) to 29% (at parties or someone else's home). Furthermore, alcohol-related assault among females was more likely to involve physical force than non-alcohol-related assault. CONCLUSIONS: Results are discussed in light of the risk factors of alcohol-related assault among adolescents as well as the nature of social contexts that fosters alcohol-related sexual assault among both adolescents and college students. (+info)
Patterns of interaction in adolescent romantic relationships: Distinct features and links to other close relationships.
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This study examined the similarities and differences between adolescents' interactions with romantic partners and those with friends and mothers. Thirty-two adolescents were observed interacting with a romantic partner, a close friend, and their mother. Adolescents and romantic partners engaged in more conflict than adolescents and friends. Adolescents' affective responsiveness was less positive with romantic partners than with their friends. Additionally, the dyadic positivity was lower in romantic relationships than in friendships. More off-task behavior occurred in romantic relationships than in mother-adolescent relationships. Romantic partners were also less skillful communicators and had lower levels of affective responsiveness than mothers. Adolescents perceived more support and fewer negative interactions in romantic relationships than in relationships with mothers. Consistent with expectations, adolescents' interactions with romantic partners were associated with those with friends and mothers. Thus, romantic relationships are characterized by distinct patterns of interaction, yet also are associated with other close relationships. (+info)
Interaction and relationship development in stable young couples: effects of positive engagement, psychological aggression, and withdrawal.
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Depressive personality styles and interpersonal problems in young adults with difficulties in establishing long-term romantic relationships.
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This research examined Blatt's personality styles in relation to overall interpersonal distress and problems in affiliation and dominance of young adults with difficulties in establishing long-term romantic relationships. Participants were 141 (73 males and 68 females) young adults comprising two groups: with difficulties in establishing long-term romantic relationships and without such difficulties. They completed the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire and the Mental Health Index (MHI), and they and their friend completed the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-C). Self-criticism and dependency contributed to greater self-reported interpersonal distress, over and above MHI depression and anxiety, while efficacy moderated the effects of these vulnerabilities. Self-criticism contributed to the friend's report of interpersonal distress only for those without difficulties in long-term romantic relationships. The findings are discussed in terms of Blatt's theory on interpersonal relatedness and self-definition in young adult's personality development and the complementary ways the personality styles influence the interpersonal world. (+info)