RELATIONSHIP STABILITY IN ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS: AN INVESTIGATION OF EARLY MALADAPTIVE SCHEMAS IN BORDERLINE PERSONALITY ORGANIZATION, MANIPULATION IN RELATIONSHIPS AND DATING VIOLENCE

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between borderline personality organization, early maladaptive schemas, dating violence, and emotional manipulation in relationships with relationship stability. In line with the purpose, Borderline Personality Inventory (BPI), Relationship Stability Questionnaire, Young Schema Short Version-3 Questionnaire, Intimate Partner Violence Attitude Scale-Revised (IPVAS-R), and The Manipulation in Human Relations Scale were used as data collection tools. The research sample consists of 394 (79.0%) female, 103 male (20.6%) and 2 missing data (0.4%) individuals, in total 499. The data were analyzed by Frequency and Correlation analysis using SPSS 21 package program and path analysis using the AMOS program. A positive relationship was found between impaired autonomy, damaged boundaries, disconnection schema areas, and borderline personality organization, and between borderline personality organization and abuse, control, violence, and manipulation. While there was a negative relationship between commitment and impaired boundaries, abuse, violence, and manipulation, there was a positive relationship with control. There was a negative relationship between relationship satisfaction and abuse, disconnection, and other-directedness schema domains, while a positive relationship was found between relationship investment and abuse, control, and other-directedness schema domains. There was a positive relationship between the evaluation of alternatives and manipulation and a negative relationship with control. Findings show that early maladaptive schemas may be determinant in the formation of borderline personality organization. In addition, the necessity of considering the violence of manipulation and dating while considering the relationship stability of individuals with borderline personality organization in the context of psychotherapy is another important finding that contributes to the literature.