Borderline Personality Traits, Dysfunctional Family and Risk-Taking Behaviors in Prison Inmates

Maheen Naseer Malik1 & Saima Majeed2

Abstract
This research was intended to analyze relationship between borderline personality traits, dysfunctional family and risk-taking behaviors in prison inmates, and gender differences across all study variables. A non-probability purposive sample of 80 participants aged 18 to 55 years (49 men and 31 women) including under trial and convicted prisoners was collected from District Jail (Camp Jail) and Central Jail (Kot Lakh Pat Jail) Lahore. The measures used were McLean Screening Instrument for BPD, Index for Family Relations Scale (IFR), and Risky, Impulsive, and Self-Destructive Behavior Questionnaire (RISQ). It was concluded that borderline personality traits and dysfunctional family life were positively related to risk-taking behaviors and foresaw risky behaviors in prisoners. In terms of gender differences, men prisoners were more inclined towards risk-taking behaviors than women prisoners. Implications of this research and their usage for future research were also highlighted.

Keywords: Borderline Personality Disorder, Prisoners, Dysfunctional Family, Risk-Taking, Personal Relations, Crime, Men, Women, Pakistan.