The structural model of relationship between child maltreatment, interpersonal skills and borderline personality traits in women population

The aim of this study was to examine the structural model of relationship between child maltreatment, interpersonal skills, and features of borderline personality in women population. The design of current research was correlation and based on structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of all 20-40 aged women living in Najafabad, Isfahan whom 400 women were selected through voluntary sampling. Applied instruments were Child abuse and Neglect Questionnaire, Interpersonal Skills Test, and Borderline Personality Scale. To analyze the data, Path analysis was used. Results of the fitness indexes confirmed the theoretical causal model of the study and indicated that in addition to a direct path between child abuse and neglect and features of borderline personality, there was an indirect relationship between these two variables through interpersonal skills (P≤0/01). These findings suggest that child maltreatment can increase the vulnerability of women to develop borderline personality traits through disturbing interpersonal skills. Thus, Interpersonal skills training can be considered as an effective intervention to improve life quality of this clinical population.