Prioritization of Maladaptive Lifestyle Indicators in Predicting Borderline Personality Disorder

Abstract

This study aimed to identify and prioritize maladaptive lifestyle indicators in predicting borderline personality disorder. This mixed-method research was conducted in two phases. The qualitative phase employed thematic analysis based on a systematic literature review until theoretical saturation, analyzed using NVivo-14. The quantitative phase utilized a questionnaire developed from qualitative findings and administered to 200 participants in Tehran. Ranking analyses were conducted using SPSS-26. The results indicated that emotional instability, interpersonal dysfunction, maladaptive thinking styles, and risky behaviors received the highest ranking means in predicting borderline personality disorder, followed by lifestyle dysregulation, self-control problems, interpersonal stressors, and emotion-management problems. The findings demonstrate that maladaptive lifestyle indicators play a substantial role in predicting borderline personality disorder and can serve as valuable targets for preventive and therapeutic interventions.