Maladaptative personality traits in adolescence: behavioural, emotional and motivational correlates of the PID-5-BF scales.

BACKGROUND

Despite the recent popularity of the classification for maladaptive traits proposed by the DSM-5, little is known about the implications of these traits in adolescent populations. This study examines the relationship between the five broad maladaptive traits included in the DSM-5 (Negative Affect, Detachment, Antagonism, Disinhibition and Psychoticism) and a wide range of criteria of adolescent functioning: behavioural (bullying, cyberbullying, victimization, cybervictimization, problematic Internet use, substance use), emotional (negative and positive emotions, life satisfaction, self-esteem, loneliness) and motivational (extrinsic and intrinsic aspirations).

METHODS

Data were collected from 921 community adolescents, who were administered the brief form of the Personality Inventory for the DSM-5 (PID-5-BF) as well as self-reported measures of the behavioural, emotional and motivational criteria.

RESULTS

Antagonism and Disinhibition were the most important traits for behaviour problems, with face-to-face bullying being more associated with maladaptative traits than cyberbullying; Negative Affect, Detachment and Psychoticism were more closely related to emotional dissatisfaction, and adolescents’ goals were associated with most of the maladaptative traits.

CONCLUSIONS

This study supports the relevance of the PID-5 traits for adolescents, and extends the nomological net of pathological personality traits to multiple facets of emotions, motivations and social behaviour in young people.