Abstract
Background: Individuals diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) have not typically had the experience of forming a secure attachment to their caregiver/s. There is a growing body of observational research with mothers diagnosed with BPD, which suggests that mothers with this diagnosis have not developed the skills needed to be a mother. However, there is no published research on the experience of being a mother with this diagnosis and how it may relate to their early experiences of being parented. Aims: The present study aimed to explore: (1) The perceptions and experiences of early attachment relationships and current mother-child attachment relationships with mothers with features of BPD; (2) How participants think their relationships with their parents impact on the way they parent their children; (3) What they think are the unique challenges mothers face in relation to the features of BPD; (4) The strategies/resources mothers diagnosed with BPD bring to the tasks of parenting. Method Nine mothers diagnosed with BPD were interviewed. Six interviews were fully transcribed and analysed. The interview schedule included: Their early relationships with caregivers, how they parent their own children, and what has helped them in this role as a mother. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results: Three master themes were derived from the analysis: (1) Early adversity with limited support, (2) Difficulties as a parent with varied support and understanding, and (3) Across the lifespan: patterns in childhood recur in motherhood. Discussion: The themes highlighted how maladaptive ways of coping with overwhelming emotions and limited experiences of developing trusting relationships in childhood, made mothering a challenging task. A key aspect of working with this group is the development of a trusting relationship with professionals, to provide mothers with the support they would like in their parenting role.