Self-directedness mediates the association of child abuse and neglect experiences with personality pathology

It is well established that the exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may alter the the development of personality. Nevertheless, only a part of individuals exposed to ACEs actually develop Personality Disorders (PDs). According to the alternative model of PDs, impairments in dimensional self-aspects, i.e., Identity and Self-direction (SD), may represent potential candidates to promote the transition from ACEs to PDs. We analysed patients’ data from the A.T. Beck Institute of Rome (n = 626) to evaluate the ACEs and SD interplay in PDs patients using Cloninger’s Self-Directedness to assess their SD. First, we explored the presence of ACEs in patients affected by PDs. Secondly, we examined the association between ACEs and SD and subsequently how SD influences the severity of the PDs. Finally, since SD and ACEs were both associated to PDs, we wondered if SD could mediate the relationships between ACEs and PDs. Results evidenced a partial competitive mediation effect of SD on the relationship between child abuse and neglect and the number of PDs. In agreement with the AMPD, Self-functioning dimension may represent a main target for psychotherapeutic intervention.