Attachment Security in Adult Offspring of Parents with Narcissistic and Borderline Personality Disorder

Available research in understanding the correlation of insecure attachment in the offspring of caregivers with traits of personality disorders and how the two presents in adulthood includes the experiences from childhood to adolescence, though thus far, no other studies have been done to understand these variables into adulthood. This mixed methods study of 172 participants for the quantitative portion and 12 participants for the qualitative portion explored the impact of having an early childhood caregiver with Narcissistic or Borderline Personality Disorder characteristics on attachment styles and interpersonal relationships in adulthood. Online self-reports utilizing The Personality Inventory (PCL-5 Brief Form) to gauge the recalled presence of parental personality disorder traits and Experiences in Close Relationships - Revised (ECR-R) to measure attachment style were analyzed for the qualitative study and thematic analysis for the qualitative interviews. The quantitative research incorporated three analyses, revealing statistically significant results for a positive association between insecure attachment styles and parental personality disorder traits. The qualitative study focused on the participant's experiences with parents exhibiting characteristics of Borderline or Narcissistic Personality Disorder and the impact on adulthood and significant relationships. The hermeneutical phenomenological approach for thematic analysis resulted in five themes: 1. Participant behaviors and emotions in current relationships; 2. Partner traits were resembling those of their parents; 3. Impact on sense of self; 4. Maladaptive coping mechanisms; and 5. The healing journey. Understanding the depth of damage included in this study from childhood and the relationship to insecure attachment in adulthood with generational trauma is going to change clinical perspectives and interventions in pediatric care, school, and family interventions for early prevention and therapeutic clinical practice in all stages of life.