also significant group differences in 3-way (secure, preoccupied, dismissive), (2, = N χ2 62) = 19.04, < .001, and 4-way (secure, preoccupied, dismissive, unresolved), (3, p χ2 N = 62) = 13.49, < .01 classifications. Follow up tests revealed that mothers in the BPD p group were more likely to be classified as preoccupied in 3-way, (1, = 62) = 13.81, N χ2 < .001, and unresolved in 4-way, (1, = 62) = 4.35, < .05 classifications than were p N p χ2 comparisons. For Hypothesis 2, we tested group differences on the continuous AAI preoccupied/unresolved and dismissive dimensions with two analyses of covariance (ANCOVA), controlling for current mood, anxiety, other personality disorders, and maternal education. As hypothesized, mothers with BPD scored significantly higher on the preoccupied/unresolved dimension (M = 4.18, = 1.36) than did normative SD comparisons (M = 2.46, = 1.14), 42) = 6.35, < = .14. There was no SD F(1, p .05, η2 significant difference between mothers with BPD (M = 3.97, = 1.24) and normative SD comparisons (M = 3.54, = 0.99) on the dismissive dimension, 42) = 1.93, > .10, SD F(1, p = .03. η2 For Hypothesis 3, associations between AAI dimensions and self-reported borderline features in the sample as a whole were tested with Pearson bivariate correlations. As hypothesized, the preoccupied/unresolved dimension was significantly correlated with all borderline features (affective instability, identity disturbance, negative relationships and self-harm). Also as hypothesized, the dismissive dimension was not significantly correlated with any of the borderline features. See Table 6 for correlation coefficients.
also significant group differences in 3-way (secure, preoccupied, dismissive), χ2 (2, N = 62) = 19.04, p < .001, and 4-way (secure, preoccupied, dismissive, unresolved), χ2 (3, N = 62) = 13.49, p < .01 classifications. Follow up tests revealed that mothers in the BPD group were more likely to be classified as preoccupied in 3-way, χ2 (1, N = 62) = 13.81, p < .001, and unresolved in 4-way, χ2 (1, N = 62) = 4.35, p < .05 classifications than were comparisons. For Hypothesis 2, we tested group differences on the continuous AAI preoccupied/unresolved and dismissive dimensions with two analyses of covariance (ANCOVA), controlling for current mood, anxiety, other personality disorders, and maternal education. As hypothesized, mothers with BPD scored significantly higher on the preoccupied/unresolved dimension (M = 4.18, SD = 1.36) than did normative comparisons (M = 2.46, SD = 1.14), F(1, 42) = 6.35, p < .05, η2 = .14. There was no significant difference between mothers with BPD (M = 3.97, SD = 1.24) and normative comparisons (M = 3.54, SD = 0.99) on the dismissive dimension, F(1, 42) = 1.93, p > .10, η2 = .03. For Hypothesis 3, associations between AAI dimensions and self-reported borderline features in the sample as a whole were tested with Pearson bivariate correlations. As hypothesized, the preoccupied/unresolved dimension was significantly correlated with all borderline features (affective instability, identity disturbance, negative relationships and self-harm). Also as hypothesized, the dismissive dimension was not significantly correlated with any of the borderline features. See Table 6 for correlation coefficients.
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