Characterizing interpersonal emotion regulation across dimensions of personality pathology.

Abstract

There is growing recognition of the value of better understanding interpersonal emotion regulation (IER) in individuals with personality pathology, with some initial investigations providing preliminary information about IER in borderline personality disorder (BPD). We aimed to examine characteristics of IER across dimensional measures of personality pathology. In a sample recruited for elevated levels of personality pathology, specifically BPD features, (N = 95; 63% met criteria for at least one personality disorder), we examined the relations among interpersonal and emotional personality pathology domains (i.e., negative affect, detachment, and antagonism) and characteristics of IER (i.e., frequency, efficacy, and perceived willingness of partners to assist in IER) with social network partners. Overall, detachment was associated with a smaller network of IER partners, while negative affect was associated with greater frequency of IER. In multilevel models, participants reported higher IER frequency with partners with both greater relative positive relationship quality and greater relative negative relationship quality. However, partners with greater positive relationship quality and lower negative relationship quality were perceived as more efficacious and willing to help in the process of IER. We also examined the moderating role of personality pathology in the associations of partner quality and IER. All domains were associated with differences in the qualities of partners they perceive as most efficacious or willing. These results help broaden our understanding of IER across a range of personality pathology. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).