Birth Order Effect on Borderline Personality Disorder, Deliberate Self Harm and Depression in Young Adulthood

Adler proposed that ordinal position in siblings and socialization pattern in family constellation may predict psychopathology, personality characteristics and behavior of the individual. However, birth order research has always been controversial and few studies conducted did not specifically examine its effect as an independent risk factor in youth mental health conditions. The present investigation explores the impact of birth order on borderline personality features, depression, self monitoring behaviour and deliberate self harm in college students. A non clinical sample comprising of 101 undergraduate students (males & females) was drawn from Chandigarh region within the age range of 18-21 years. Assessment tools employed include Borderline Symptom List, Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, Self Monitoring Scale and Inventory of Statements about Self Injury (ISAS). Revealed that First born college students scored significantly higher compared to Last born group in Borderline Personality features, Self Monitoring and domains of Self Injurious behaviour including Interpersonal Boundaries, Self Punishment, Anti Suicide and Interpersonal Influence. Correlation analysis in the First born group showed a significant positive association between borderline personality symptomatology and sub domains of self injurious behaviour. There also exists a significant positive relationship between depression and self monitoring, interpersonal boundaries, sensation seeking and peer bonding. As a preliminary attempt, our study provides evidence for the significant impact of birth order on psychopathology in college students in domains of borderline personality features, self-injurious behavior and self monitoring which warrants the need to address family structure and dynamics in etiology and psychosocial management of personality disorders.