Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Georita Frierson

Abstract

Individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) experience extreme interpersonal conflict, crippling their ability to sustain successful relationships. Consequently, clinicians within the psychological field face difficulty in devising treatments plans which can assist these individuals with suffering minimal relationship loss. The purpose of this study was to understand how current technological methods of social interaction affect individuals who suffer from BPD to improve treatment outcomes. This research was guided by the principles of attachment theory and social baseline theory. A quantitative correlational design using social network analysis and multiple regression analysis was used to examine data from surveys. Participants were solicited using the social media platforms Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. The final sample included six males, 64 females, and four individuals who identified as other. The standardized instruments used to examine the relationship between social media usage and physical isolation in individuals who suffer from BPD were the Five-Factor Borderline Inventory Short Form, Interpersonal Support Evaluation List-12, Perceived Social Support Tool, Social Media Use Questionnaire, and the Social Isolation Scale. The study results revealed that 14% of the variation in social isolation within the sample was contributed to social media usage, implying that social media usage increases social isolation in individuals who suffer from BPD. This information may lead to positive social change by assisting individuals who suffer from BPD and their practitioners in understanding how the use of social media can further impact their ability to create and maintain relationships in the physical world.

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