Detailed contribution information
| Contribution title | The role of relationship quality in mediating the link between internalizing and externalizing difficulties and personality functioning one year later among adolescents |
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| Contribution code | D3.104 |
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| Form of presentation | Poster |
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| Abstract |
Introduction: Internalizing and externalizing disorders often precede personality disorders. These conditions may further impede healthy personality development in adolescence, potentially contributing to the emergence of a personality disorder. However, the development of a disorder is usually multidetermined, emphasizing the need to identify significant contributing factors. Adolescence is a period marked by the growing importance of social relationships. Aims: This study explored whether subjective relationship quality contributes to the association between general psychopathology (internalizing and externalizing difficulties) and disrupted personality functioning over one year. Methods: The study included 697 adolescents aged 11–17 years (M = 14.45, SD = 1.61; 65.1% female) from urban and rural areas in Lithuania. General psychopathology was assessed using the Youth Self-Report (YSR 11–18) (Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001), personality functioning using the Levels of Personality Functioning Questionnaire (LoPF-Q 12–18) (Goth et al., 2018), and the Network of Relationships Qualities Questionnaire (Furman & Buhrmester, 1985) was used to measure relationship qualities with parents and a best friend. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 29. Results: Closeness and discord in relationship with parents significantly mediated the association between general psychopathology and personality functioning (p < 0.05). However, relationship qualities with a best friend were either non-significant or associated with a very small effect size. Detailed analyses of specific relational aspects will be presented to explain these findings. Conclusion: Subjective relationship quality, particularly with parents, appear to be an important factor that may either contribute to or buffer the association between general psychopathology and personality functioning. |