1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«The current research examined risk and protective factors in the development of BPD [borderline personality disorder]. […] This dissertation comprises two manuscripts. The first manuscript investigates the risk factors linked to the development of BPD in 12 pairs of sisters. […] The second manuscript adds to this work and explores the protective factors in the 12 pairs of sisters.» (p. 6-7)

Questions/Hypothèses :
In the first article the questions are the following: «’How do these sisters construe their experiences growing up in the same families and with numerous adversities?’ and ‘How do these sisters perceive the influence of their childhood experiences?’ and ‘How do they derive meaning from their experiences?’» (p. 49) In the second article, the author asked: «’How do these sisters construct their experiences of resilience?’ and ‘How do these sisters describe their awareness of their resilient and non-resilient outcomes?’ and ’How do they understand their experiences of protective factors?’» (p. 96)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
In both studies the author used the same sample. «[Twelve] [p]airs of sisters who were concordant on severe levels of exposure to significant risks were the focus of the study.» (p. 6)

Instruments :
- Questionnaires
- Guide d’entretien semi-directif

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse de contenu

3. Résumé

According to the author, «[t]aken together these two manuscripts provide an in depth qualitative investigation of risks and protective factors linked to the development of BPD. Manuscript 1 underscores the importance of examining not solely parents but multiple members in the family in order to develop a better understanding of the abuse-BPD link. Additionally, these findings contradict the viewpoint that individuals with BPD have been singled out by family members since the non-BPD sisters corroborated the woman with BPD history of abuse. These findings present a salient contribution to the field by suggesting attributions in trying to understand differential psychological outcome. In addition, the findings suggest a story of how BPD develops and the relationship about parental psychopathology leads to abuse and abuse leads to the development of BPD. While the findings for manuscript 2 are consistent with current research on protective factors, the data from this study suggest the meaning and purpose of children and acceptance of the past are novel protective factors that need further elaboration. The findings also present a salient contribution to the field by suggesting that although individuals might have access to protective factors we need to develop a better understanding of specific ways to promote the use of these factors. These two manuscripts provide a solid rationale that more research on risk and protective factors linked to the development of this disorder is warranted. These manuscripts also have clinical implications that support a shift from the traditional deficit-focused treatments to a resilience approach that fosters personal strengths, resources, and competencies across multiple domains, knowledge of protective factors as well as risk factors, and what strengths also exist in the individuals’ family and environment.» (p. 7-8)