The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of experiential avoidance in the relationship between borderline personality traits and reactive aggression.

In total, 160 participants (male N=57, female N=103, mean age 25.3 years) completed the questionnaires measuring levels of borderline personality traits, experiential avoidance, and reactive aggression.

First, borderline personality traits had a significantly positive effect on experiential avoidance and reactive aggression. Experiential avoidance also had a positive effect on reactive aggression. Second, experiential avoidance had mediating effect between borderline personality traits and reactive aggression.

Based on the results of this study, it was confirmed that borderline personality traits could activate experiential avoidance, which leads to an increase in reactive aggression. Furthermore, current results suggested that in the treatment of reactive aggression in borderline personality traits, it was important to deal with experiential avoidance.

Despite the popularity of the study of borderline personality disorder, definition of “Chronic Emptiness” were applied to define the theoretical concept and never met an agreement among evaluators.

First, the preliminary questionnaire was prepared based on the previous studies and the data collected through the in-depth interviews with the people with borderline personality disorder, and the final 18 items were developed through the item analysis. In order to verify the reliability and validity of the emptiness scale, 526 adults from 18 to 40 years of age were tested for internal consistency coefficient, and factor analysis and validity test were conducted.

The internal consistency coefficient of the emptiness scale was very good. As a result of the factor analysis, it was confirmed that it has a single structure. On validity test, emptiness was highly correlated with borderline personality disorder, depression, and suicide ideation.

Emptiness is associated with identity problems, and adolescents tend to do NSSI to deal with emptiness related to identity formation. Until now, the terms of loneliness, solitude, and emptiness have not been sufficiently distinguished, but the distinction between the respective terms has become possible through measuring emptiness. The implications and limitations of this research and subsequent studies discussed.

This study aimed to examine the mediating effects of mindfulness on the relationship between borderline personality trait and psychological distress.

529 female undergraduates participated to complete self-report questionnaires.

Correlational analyses showed that borderline personality trait was positively associated with psychological distress and negatively associated with mindfulness, and mindfulness was negatively related to psychological distress. Regression analyses suggested that low level of mindfulness partially mediated the relationship between borderline personality trait and psychological distress. Among mindfulness facets ‘acting with awareness,’ ‘nonjudging,’ and ‘nonreactivity’ had significant mediating effects.

Borderline personality trait affects psychological distress through low mindfulness―specifically in acting with awareness, nonjudging, or nonreactivity. This finding suggests that intervention focusing on these mindfulness facets may be helpful for those with borderline trait and psychological distress.