The Association Between the Invalidating Environment Exposure, Rejection Sensitivity and Borderline Personality Traits

The present study aimed to examine the association between exposure to invalidating environments, rejection sensitivity and the borderline personality disorder symptoms. From these variables three main hypotheses emerge. My first hypothesis is that higher levels of exposure to an invalidating environment will be associated with an increase in borderline personality disorder traits. Secondly, higher levels of rejection sensitivity will be associated increase in the amount of borderline personality disorder traits. Thirdly, increased levels of invalidating environment exposure and rejection sensitivity will be associated increase in the level of borderline personality disorder traits. The total sample collected n=222 responses. The final sample used was n=110. Maternal and paternal invalidation had a significant and negative relationship between invalidating environment exposure and borderline personality traits. The rejection sensitivity anxiety and acceptance scores found a significant and negative relationship between the level of rejection sensitivity anxiety, rejection sensitivity and borderline personality traits. Maternal and paternal invalidation were both significant and negative predictors of borderline personality traits in the final model. However, both rejection sensitivity anxiety and acceptance were both non-significant predictors of borderline personality traits in this model. This study utilized a non-clinical sample, future studies should utilize a clinical sample. Furthermore, the presentation of invalidating environments may vary across cultures.