A – 25 Emotion Dysregulation and Emotional Invalidation in the ADHD–BPD Link: Testing the Biosocial Model in Emerging Adults

Abstract Objective Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD) frequently co-occur in young adults, but few studies have explored which factors contribute to BPD development among individuals with ADHD. This study tested components of the biosocial developmental model of BPD (i.e., emotion dysregulation and childhood emotional invalidation) in a large, non-clinical college sample. Method College students (N = 2,078; 68% women) were recruited from a multisite ADHD consortium. Participants completed validated self-report measures of childhood and current ADHD symptoms, current BPD symptoms, emotion dysregulation, and perceived childhood emotional invalidation. Hierarchical linear regressions were used to test whether emotion dysregulation and emotional invalidation moderated the relationship between childhood ADHD symptoms and current BPD symptoms. Results Childhood ADHD symptoms (β = .332, p < .001), current emotion dysregulation (β = .563, p < .001), and emotional invalidation (β = .266, p < .001) each independently predicted BPD symptoms. However, neither emotion dysregulation nor emotional invalidation significantly moderated the relationship between childhood ADHD symptoms and BPD symptoms. Conclusion Findings support the biosocial developmental model, with emotion dysregulation and invalidation both predicting BPD symptoms. However, their lack of moderation suggests that ADHD may contribute to BPD risk via additional developmental pathways. These results highlight the role of emotion-related neurocognitive processes, such as impulsivity and self-regulation, in the emergence of BPD and underscore the need for early interventions targeting emotional validation and emotion regulation in youth with ADHD. Future research should explore additional neurocognitive processes that may contribute to the development of BPD in individuals with ADHD.