Uncovering trajectories of personality functioning in adolescence and their associations with baseline psychopathology

As the conceptualization of personality disorders shifts from a categorical to a dimensional assessment, understanding the trajectory of personality functioning in adolescence becomes crucial. Thus, this study aimed to examine distinct trajectories of personality functioning over a two-year period in a community sample of adolescents, while identifying associated factors. A three-wave longitudinal study with a one-year interval between assessments was conducted from 2021 to 2023 with Lithuanian adolescents aged 11-18 (N = 855; M = 14.44, SD = 1.60; 62.5% female, 37.5% male) from a community sample. Personality pathology was assessed using the Levels of Personality Functioning Questionnaire (T1-T3). Associated factors included measures of internalizing and externalizing problems, victimization, and self-harm. Latent class growth analysis revealed four distinct trajectories of personality functioning: adaptive and declining, as well as three stable trajectories categorized as normative, slightly impaired, and significantly impaired. Membership in the impairment groups was associated with age and sex, as well as internalizing and attention-deficit/hyperactivity problems at the first measurement. Our study presents emerging evidence of noticeable individual variability in the course of personality functioning during adolescence and informs about associations with general psychopathological symptoms.