The meditating role of rejection sensitivity in the relationship between perceived parental attitudes and borderline personality traits among university students

This study aimed to examine the mediating role of rejection sensitivity in the relationship between perceived parental attitudes and borderline personality traits among university students. It is well established that early environmental factors significantly influence psychological development, and parental attitudes play a crucial role in shaping an individual's personality structure. Borderline personality traits are characterized by emotional instability, fear of abandonment, and unstable interpersonal relationships, with early life experiences often implicated in their development.The study was conducted with 227 university students currently enrolled in higher education in Istanbul. Data were collected using a Socio- Demographic Information Form, the Shortened Version of the Perceived Parental Attitudes Scale – Child Form, the Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire, and the Borderline Personality Inventory. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS 27 and Hayes' Process Macro. Correlation, regression, and mediation analyses were employed.Findings revealed that both rejecting and overprotective parental attitudes were positively and significantly associated with borderline personality traits. Moreover, rejection sensitivity was found to significantly mediate these relationships. Perceived emotional warmth from both mothers and fathers was negatively associated with borderline traits. These results suggest that early parental attitudes have long-term effects on emotional and interpersonal functioning and underline the importance of considering these variables in clinical assessment and intervention processes. Keywords: Parental attitudes, borderline personality traits, rejection sensitivity, university students