Degree Name
MA (Master of Arts)
Program
Sociology
Date of Award
5-2020
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Joseph Baker
Committee Members
Martha Copp, Leslie McCallister
Abstract
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a debilitating personality disorder that impacts anywhere between 1% to 5% of Americans. Studies claim that women are significantly more at risk than men to suffer from this disorder and may experience stronger symptoms. Previous research has found that victims of childhood abuse such as sexual abuse, physical abuse, and neglect are more at risk for developing Borderline Personality Disorder as adults, particularly when abuse is paired with genetic susceptibility. Some researchers claim that there are no detectable racial differences in Borderline Personality Disorder, but previous studies often have very small sample sizes taken from clinical patients. To examine the sociological patterns of BPD diagnosis with a representative population sample, data was analyzed from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions to examine gender, race, and childhood abuse as predictors. Results show that racial minority status is actually a stronger predictor than gender. Examining intersectional effects shows that black women and Native American men have significantly elevated risks for BPD in adulthood. Overall, a history of sexual and emotional abuse are the most significant driving factors of BPD, regardless of race and gender.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Moses, Olivia, "Gender, Race, and Childhood Abuse as Predictors of Borderline Personality Disorder" (2020). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 3785. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3785
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.
Included in
Clinical Psychology Commons, Counseling Commons, Experimental Analysis of Behavior Commons, Personality and Social Contexts Commons, Social Work Commons, Sociology Commons