The Role of Emotion Dysregulation and Distress Tolerance in the Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and Borderline Personality Disorder Symptomatology Among College Students: A Chain Mediated Model Analysis

Background Numerous retrospective and prospective research, across clinical and nonclinical populations, have demonstrated the significant influence of childhood trauma (CT) on the development of borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptoms. However, the pathway through which childhood trauma leads to BPD symptoms and the specific forms of CT that are uniquely associated with BPD features remain unclear, especially in the Indian context. Objectives The present study aims to (a) examine the associations between CT, emotion dysregulation (ED), distress tolerance (DT), and BPD symptoms; and (b) evaluate the serial mediating roles of ED and DT in the relationship between various forms of CT and BPD symptoms among college students in India. Methods It was a cross-sectional study conducted with 306 college students (both male and females) aged between 18 to 29 years, recruited through convenience sampling method using an online Google Form. Data were collected using standardized tools, including Childhood trauma questionnaire-short form (CTQ-SF-28). Borderline Symptoms Checklist (BSL-23), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-18) and Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS-15). Results In the present study, the prevalence of self-reported symptoms of BPD was 28.4% and 56.2% students self-reported having experienced at least one type of CT. Significant cross-sectional associations were found between various forms of self-reported CT, symptoms of BPD, ED and DT. Stepwise regression analyses showed that overall self-reported CT, as well as specific forms such as sexual and emotional abuse, significantly cross sectionally predicted self-reported symptoms of BPD. Moreover, overall CT, sexual and emotional abuse showed both direct and indirect effects on BPD symptoms through the serial mediation of ED and DT, after controlling for age and gender. Conclusions The results are consistent with theoretical and empirical evidence highlighting the serial mediating roles of ED and DT in the relationship between CT and BPD symptoms.