Browsing by Author "Weaver, Terri Lynn"

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    Early family environments and vulnerability factors associated with borderline personality disorder
    Weaver, Terri Lynn (Virginia Tech, 1991)
    Childhood trauma experiences (sexual abuse, physical abuse, witnessed violence, and early separation experiences) and family environment characteristics were assessed via questionnaire from a sample of depressed borderline (N=17) and depressed nonborderline (N=19) female inpatients. Significantly more borderline individuals than nonborderlines gave histories of sexual abuse (76%) and physical abuse (93%) and these traumatic experiences were more severe in nature as demonstrated by significantly greater composite scores. While the presence of witnessed violence did not differentiate the two groups, borderline individuals witnessed violence more frequently than nonborderline individuals if there was violence in the home. Early separation experiences were relatively common in both groups suggesting that these experiences may be associated with both BPD and depression. The BPD group was also distinctive on family environment measures, evidencing significantly less family cohesiveness and expressiveness and significantly more conflict and control. The two groups were similar on indices of current stressors, typically associated with onset of depression, providing more support for the role of childhood trauma in the etiology of BPD.
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    Interpersonal violence: expanding the search for long-term sequelae within a sample of battered women
    Weaver, Terri Lynn (Virginia Tech, 1994)
    Lifetime sexual and physical victimization history was examined within a shelter sample (N = 30) and outpatient sample (N = 13) of battered women. Participants reported complex and varied lifetime victimization histories with 71% of women reporting a childhood experience of physical abuse and 53% of women reporting a childhood experience of sexual abuse. Lifetime victimization histories were then examined as predictors of functioning within three domains: general psychological distress, intrapersonal functioning, and interpersonal functioning. General psychological distress was an important measure of psychological adaptation which was specifically linked to the severity of more recent victimization, including current sexual abuse and interim physical abuse. Difficulties with identity development, low self-worth, and (at the trend level) difficulties with intimacy and symptoms of borderline personality received some Support as long-term outcomes following childhood abuse, specifically experiences of chronic childhood physical abuse.These findings suggest that the type of outcome may be differentially associated with the type, onset, and combination of abuse experiences.