Being bullied in childhood: Correlations with borderline personality in adulthood

Objective: This study was designed to explore correlations between a history of being bullied in childhood and borderline personality disorder (BPD) in adulthood, several externalizing behaviors, and mental health care utilization. Method: Using a cross-sectional consecutive sample of internal medicine outpatients (N = 414), we examined the relationship between history of being bullied in childhood and 2 measures of BPD: the borderline personality scale of the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4 and the Self-Harm Inventory. We also explored whether having ever been bullied was related to a number of externalizing behaviors (eg, rage reactions, road rage, excessive spending, alcohol and substance misuse, binge eating) as well as greater mental health care utilization. Results: In this study, a history of being bullied in childhood demonstrated statistically significant correlations with both measures of BPD as well as a number of externalizing behaviors and the measures for mental health care utilization. Conclusions: A history of being bullied in childhood demonstrates a positive correlation with BPD in adulthood, externalizing behaviors, and mental health care utilization. Although this does not necessarily imply causality, the nature of this relationship warrants further investigation.