Risky Sexual Behavior among Adolescents with Borderline Personality Disorder: A Mini Review

This mini-review explores various forms of risky sexual behavior (RSB) among adolescents with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), emphasizing the neurodevelopmental factors, family dynamics, and peer influences that contribute to these behaviors. Adolescents with BPD often experience emotional dysregulation and impulsivity, which increase their vulnerability to engaging in RSB, including promiscuity, unprotected sex, and sexting. A neurodevelopmental perspective highlights the role of brain immaturity in exacerbating impulsivity and emotional sensitivity during adolescence. Additionally, family structures, particularly emotionally abusive environments and insecure attachments, significantly contribute to the onset of BPD symptoms and related RSB. Peer influence, especially through social networks promoting risky sexual norms, further exacerbates these behaviors. Finally, RSB's detrimental impact on adolescent mental health, including increased emotional instability and vulnerability to victimization, is discussed. Future research should focus on interventions that target both familial and peer-related factors to mitigate RSB among adolescents with BPD.