Criteria A and B of the alternative model for personality disorders as prospective predictors of psychosocial functioning in community-based adolescents: A 1-year follow-up study.

Abstract

Research on the dimensional approach to personality disorders in relation to psychosocial functioning is limited, particularly among adolescents. Since adolescence is a critical developmental period from the emergence of personality disorders, it is crucial to understand how both Criterion A (the level of personality functioning) and Criterion B (maladaptive personality traits) contribute to various domains of psychosocial functioning in this age group. To address this research gap, the current study evaluated the extent to which Criterion A and Criterion B of the alternative model for personality disorders predict psychosocial functioning in community-based sample adolescents over a 1-year period, beyond the overall psychopathology and baseline levels of psychosocial functioning. The study involved 855 adolescents aged 11-18 (M = 14.44, SD = 1.60; 62.5% female) at baseline and followed up 1 year later, achieving a 94% retention rate. Measurements included the assessments of the level of personality functioning, maladaptive personality traits, overall psychopathology, academic functioning, social functioning, and well-being. The findings indicated that while both Criterion A and Criterion B are associated with lower levels of psychosocial functioning 1 year later, their contributions varied across domains. Criterion A significantly predicted functioning in social and well-being domains, while Criterion B predicted social difficulties only. Neither Criterion A nor Criterion B was significant in predicting academic functioning. Psychoticism contributed to the experience of social rebuff, while detachment was uniquely linked to a lower quality of life. The results contribute to the understanding of how dimensionally defined personality pathology affects psychosocial functioning, adding a prospective perspective during adolescence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).