Interpersonal Emotion Regulation in the Context of Social Networks: A Focus on Borderline Personality Disorder

Interpersonal emotion regulation (IER) involves modulating one's emotions through social contact. Considering the extensive emotional and interpersonal difficulties associated with borderline personality disorder (BPD), it is particularly relevant to the study of IER. We examined the frequency and efficacy of IER in relation to BPD features, as well as perceived characteristics of the social network partners utilized for IER, among 149 participants. We found that BPD features were unrelated to the frequency of using IER but negatively related to the perceived efficacy of IER and perceived willingness of partners to assist in IER. Furthermore, BPD features attenuated the relation between partner closeness and both the likelihood of being an IER partner (vs. a non-IER partner) and the frequency of going to that partner for IER (partner-IER-frequency). Additionally, there was an inverse relation between relationship quality and frequency of seeking IER from a partner at higher levels of BPD features, whereas there was no association between quality and frequency of IER at lower levels of BPD features. Finally, BPD features attenuated the relation between partner centrality and the likelihood of being an IER partner. Finding that those with elevated BPD features go to less central and close others for IER, even though there is no association between IER frequency and BPD features, bolsters our understanding of the intersection of interpersonal and emotional functioning and may provide future avenues for intervention.