Distress Tolerance as a Mediator of the Association Between Borderline Personality Symptoms and Obsessive Relational Intrusion: An Exploratory Analysis

Obsessive relational intrusion (ORI) is the process by which a pursuer makes multiple attempts at establishing an unwanted, intimate relationship with an individual. It encompasses the more widely known behavior, stalking, which is a widespread problem, particularly among college-aged young adults. However, research on the underlying psychological processes involved in ORI and stalking perpetration is still in its infancy. Using relational goal pursuit theory and the emotional cascade model as guides to explore these processes, we investigated whether distress tolerance mediated the association between borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptoms and ORI, among a college student sample. Participants ( N = 224; 62.5% female; Mage = 19.6 years) were recruited from an online survey panel and through the psychology research pool at a small, Northeastern university. Consistent with our hypotheses, path modeling showed that distress tolerance was a significant partial mediator between BPD symptoms and frequency of ORI perpetration. These results seem to provide new insight into the established link between BPD symptoms and ORI, and thus may contribute to our understanding of the underlying psychology of people who engage in unwanted pursuit. Future research should look toward replicating the current findings, testing potential gender differences in the model, and exploring other predictors of both the frequency and initiation of ORI behaviors.

Child Maltreatment, Personality Pathology, and Stalking Victimization Among Male and Female College Students

Self-report college student surveys on childhood maltreatment, and borderline and narcissistic personality features are examined to determine their influence on stalking victimization vulnerability. Stalking victimization was measured using Spitzberg and Cupach’s (2008) Obsessive Relational Intrusion scale. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models were run separately for men (N = 677) and women (N = 1,017). Results indicated childhood sexual maltreatment and borderline traits were associated with stalking victimization among both men and women. These were the only significant relationships for men (R2 = .10). For women, stalking victimization was also associated with narcissistic grandiosity and vulnerability and with a child sexual abuse by borderline features interaction (R2 = .13), demonstrating women reporting prior sexual abuse and borderline personality pathology are especially vulnerable. Methodological and policy implications are discussed.

Coping With Obsessive Relational Intrusion and Stalking: The Role of Social Support and Coping Strategies

This study investigated the extent to which social support mediates negative effects of stalking and obsessive relational intrusion (ORI) victimization. A survey of 1,068 respondents indicated that (a) ORI/stalking victimization is positively related to negative symptoms and trauma; (b) five different types of coping responses are positively related to negative symptoms; (c) four domains of social support reveal small but significant negative relationships with negative symptoms; and (d) females are more threatened by unwanted pursuit than male victims, and male pursuers are more threatening than female pursuers. Structural equation modeling indicates that the influence of ORI/stalking on negative symptoms is mediated by the use of coping strategies and the adequacy of social support. Discussion speculates on the functional theoretical value of coping and support processes in managing unwanted pursuit and stalking.