Problematic usage of the internet and borderline personality disorder: A survey study in the United States.

Adults with borderline personality disorder (BPD) are often diagnosed with co-occurring substance use disorders, but research regarding comorbid behavioral addictions, such as problematic usage of the internet (PUI), is sparse. Therefore, this study investigates the extent to which individuals with...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Comprehensive Psychiatry Vol. 147
Autores principales: Avila, Laurie, Boutouis, Sophie, Neelapu, Megha, Grant, Jon E.
Formato: research Journal Article
Publicado: Elsevier B.V. Apr2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=193148225&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: ccm
    uiTerm: 193148225
    longDbName: CINAHL Complete
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    dissinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        0010440X
        L9O
      jtl: Comprehensive Psychiatry
      issn: 0010440X
      maglogo: N
    pubinfo:
      dt: Apr2026
      vid: 147
      pid: 82545
      pub: Elsevier B.V.
      place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    artinfo:
      ui:
        193148225
        193148225
        193148225
        10.1016/j.comppsych.2026.152690
        193148225
      ppct: 1
      formats:
      tig:
        atl: Problematic usage of the internet and borderline personality disorder: A survey study in the United States.
      aug:
        au:
          Avila, Laurie
          Boutouis, Sophie
          Neelapu, Megha
          Grant, Jon E.
        affil: Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
      sug:
        subj:
          Internet Addiction Complications
          Borderline Personality Disorder Risk Factors
          Risk Assessment
          Human
          United States
          Female
          Male
          Adult
          Middle Age
          Aged
          Surveys
          Psychological Tests
          Questionnaires
          Dating
          Mental Health
          Mobile Applications
          Emotional Regulation
          Avoidance (Psychology)
          Descriptive Statistics
          Adult: 19-44 years
          Middle Aged: 45-64 years
          Aged: 65+ years
          Female
          Male
      ab: Adults with borderline personality disorder (BPD) are often diagnosed with co-occurring substance use disorders, but research regarding comorbid behavioral addictions, such as problematic usage of the internet (PUI), is sparse. Therefore, this study investigates the extent to which individuals with probable BPD struggle with PUI within an online community sample. An online survey titled "Personality, Mental Health, and Well-Being" was conducted using Prolific among a non-clinical sample of 300 adults (ages 18–76) from the United States in 2024. Probable BPD was identified using the McLean Screening Instrument for BPD (MSI-BPD). Participants with probable BPD were compared to those without probable BPD on demographics, Internet Severity and Activities Addiction Questionnaire (ISAAQ-10) severity scores, engagement in various online activities measured by the ISAAQ-10, dating app use, and responses to exploratory questions. Of the 289 adults who completed the MSI-BPD, 13.1% (n = 38) screened positive for probable BPD. Compared to those without probable BPD, those with probable BPD scored higher on the ISAAQ-10 and were significantly more likely to meet our exploratory threshold for elevated PUI (33.3% versus 7.8%). Dating app use was more prevalent among individuals with probable BPD. In exploratory analyses, few reliable differences were observed across other specific online activities. Individuals with probable BPD reported higher levels of problematic internet use. Future studies should explore why and how people with BPD use the internet, especially whether online behaviors help with emotional regulation, avoidance, or validation-seeking. • Probable BPD was associated with greater problematic internet use severity. • Probable BPD was associated with greater odds of elevated problematic internet use. • Individuals with probable BPD reported higher rates of dating app use.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
    refInfo:
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N