The mediating role of rejection sensitivity and anger in the relationship between perceived parental rejection and borderline personality disorder beliefs

Objective: The main purpose of this study is to examine the mediating role of rejection sensitivity and anger between perceived parental rejection and borderline personality disorder (BPD) beliefs in a community sample. At the same time, it was also examined whether the findings of the participants' BPD beliefs differed according to socio-demographic characteristics. Methods: The research was conducted with 550 participants between the ages of 18-72. Considering the purpose of the research, Socio-Demographic Information Form, Adult Parental Acceptance-Rejection Scale/Short Form, Adult Rejection Sensitivity Scale, Trait Anger and Anger Expression Scale and Personality Belief Scale/Short Turkish Form were used. Results: According to the results of research, a positive relationship was found between percieved maternal rejection with rejection sensitivity, anger and BPD beliefs; perceived paternal rejection with rejection sensitivity and BPD beliefs; also, BPD beliefs with rejection sensitivity and anger. However, there was no significant relationship between percieved paternal rejection and anger. In addition to these, it was observed that BPD beliefs differed according to specific socio-demographic variables. As a result of the mediating effect analysis conducted with Process, a mediating role of rejection sensitivity was found between perceived maternal and paternal rejection with BPD beliefs. However, no mediator role of anger was found between perceived maternal and paternal rejection with BPD beliefs. Conclusion: BPD was examined from a dimensional perspective and examined by measuring dysfunctional beliefs, and it is thought that the present study contributed to the literature due to the limited number of previous studies conducted with a community sample. The results obtained were discussed in the light of the literature, the limitations of the research and suggestions for future studies were mentioned.