Gender differences in the structural model of borderline personality, emotional regulation strategies and domestic violence

In an emotional waterfall model، in order to avoid maladaptive emotional regulation strategies to externalization، people with borderline personality venture out on externalization of violence towards their spouse. Yet gender differences in this model is ignored. The purpose of this study was to determine gender differences in the structural model in which borderline personality and emotional regulation strategies، thought rumination and suppression of thought is predicted in a form of domestic violence model. For this purpose، in a descriptive study، correlational type 311 married students were selected. They were tested in terms of conflict tactics، borderline signs، ruminative response styles and repression. Findings indicated that the study structural model fit with data of both groups of men and women in a different way. In this study، the relationship between borderline personality and rumination، as well as the relationship between borderline personality and domestic violence were stronger in women than men. It seems Neuroticism trait may be a factor causing women with borderline personality get more involved with different forms of violence، including domestic violence.