Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Comparison of Objective and Subjective Life Balance Between Women With and Without a Personality Disorder

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Psychiatric Quarterly Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Life balance is associated to health, well-being and quality of life and is a target of psychiatric rehabilitation interventions. However, little is known about this life dimension in women living with personality disorders. The purpose of this descriptive-correlational study was to compare and explore relationships between subjective life balance, objective time use, quality of life and perceived stress in women without a mental health disorder (n = 43) and women with a personality disorder (clusters B and C) (n = 30), aged between 18 and 50 years old. The variables were measured with the Life Balance Inventory (subjective life balance), the Occupational Questionnaire (objective time use), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (perceived stress) and the Quality of Life Index (satisfaction and importance with life domains). The analyses showed that women with a personality disorder spend significantly less time in work but more time in daily tasks and leisure. Subjective life balance, quality of life and perceived stress were significantly lower in women with a personality disorder (p < 0.05). In women with a personality disorder, subjective life balance was explained by quality of life (R2 = 27.5 %). In women without a mental illness, subjective life balance was explained by quality of life and motherhood (R2 = 36.1 %). To support the recovery of women with personality disorders and their quality of life, it is important to address objective and subjective time use to enable accomplishment of a variety of meaningful activities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edn., Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Association, 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Barlow DH, Durand VM: Les troubles de la personnalité. In: Durand VM, Barlow DH (Eds): Psychopathologie: une perspective multidimensionnelle. 2nd edn., Paris, De Boeck, pp. 741–799, 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Skodol AE, Oldham JM, Bender DA, Dyck IR, Stout RL, Morey LC, Gunderson JG: Dimensional representations of DSM-IV personality disorders: Relationship to functional impairment. American Journal of Psychiatry 162:1919–1925, 2005.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Zanarini MC, Frankenburg FR, Reich DB, Fitzmaurice G: Attainment and stability of sustained symptomatic remission and recovery among patients with borderline personality disorder and axis II comparison subjects: A 16-year prospective follow-up study. American Journal of Psychiatry 169:476–483, 2012.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Ansell EB, Sanislow CA, McGlashan TH, Grilo CM: Psychosocial impairment and treatment utilization by patients with borderline personality disorder, other personality disorders, mood and anxiety disorders, and a healthy comparison group. Comprehensive Psychiatry 48:329–336, 2007.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Larivière N, Desrosiers J, Tousignant M, Boyer R: Exploring social participation of people with cluster B personality disorders. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health 26:375–386, 2010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Salz C: A theoretical approach to the treatment of work difficulties in borderline personalities. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health 3:33–46, 1983.

  8. Sansone RA, Wiederman MW: Losing a job on purpose: relationships with borderline personality symptomatology. Early Intervention in Psychiatry 7:210–212, 2013.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Sansone RA, Leung JS, Wiederman MW: Employment histories among patients with borderline personality disorder symptomatology. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation 37:131–137, 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Thompson RJ, Payne SC, Horner MT, Morey LC: Why borderline personality features adversely affect job performance: The role of task strategies. Personality and Individual Differences 52:32–36, 2012.

  11. Falklof I, Haglund L: Daily occupations and adaptation to daily life described by women suffering from borderline personality disorder. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health 26:354–374, 2010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Canadian Mental Health Association: Jeu questionnaire sur l’équilibre travail-vie personnelle. http://www.cmha.ca/fr/mental_health/jeu-questionnaire-sur-lequilibre-travail-vie-personnelle/. Accessed September 2012.

  13. Bickenback JE, Glass TA: Life Balance: The Meaning and the Menace in a Metaphor. In: Matuska K, Christiansen C (Eds): Life Balance: Multidisciplinary Theories and Research. Thorofare, Slack Incorporated, pp. 13–22, 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Aziz S, Zickar MJ: A cluster analysis investigation of workaholism as a syndrome. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology 11:52–62, 2006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. O’Driscoll MP, Poelmans S, Spector PE, Kalliath T, Allen TD, Cooper CL, Sanchez JI: Family-responsive interventions, perceived organizational and supervisor support, work-family conflict, and psychological strain. International Journal of Stress Management 10:326–344, 2003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Hakansson C, Lissner L, Björkelund C, Sonn U: Engagement in patterns of daily occupations and perceived health among women of working age. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy 16:110–117, 2009.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Matuska K: Description and development of the life balance inventory. Occupational Therapy Journal of Research: Occupation, Participation and Health 32:220–228, 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Matuska K: Validity evidence of a model and measure of life balance. Occupational Therapy Journal of Research: Occupation, Participation and Health 32:229–237, 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Larivière N, Levasseur M: Does Life Balance of Adults and Seniors With and Without Physical Disabilities Differ? American Association of Occupational Therapists Annual Conference, Nashville, Tennessee, April 2015.

  20. Sheldon KM, Cummins R, Kamble S: Life balance and well-being: Testing a novel conceptual and measurement approach. Journal of Personality 78:1093–1134, 2010.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Bejerholm U: Occupational balance in people with schizophrenia. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health 26:1–17, 2010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Backman CL, Kennedy SM, Chalmers A, Singer J: Participation in paid and unpaid work by adults with rheumatoid arthritis. The Journal of Rheumatology 31:47–56, 2004.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Forhan M, Backman C: Exploring occupational balance in adults with rheumatoid arthritis. American Occupational Therapy Foundation 30:133–141, 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Wagman P, Håkansson C: Exploring occupational balance in adults in Sweden. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy 21:415–420, 2014.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Wagman P, Håkansson C, Björklund A: Occupational balance as used in occupational therapy: A concept analysis. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy 19:322–327, 2012.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Veenhoven R: Optimal Lifestyle Mix: An Inductive Approach. In: Matuska K, Christiansen C (Eds): Life Balance: Multidisciplinary Theories and Research. Thorofare, Slack Incorporated, pp. 23–31, 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Eklund M, Erlandsson K, Leufstadius C: Time use in relation to valued and satisfying occupations among people with persistent mental illness: Exploring occupational balance. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy 75:184–190, 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Zanarini MC, Frankenburg FR, Reich DB, Fitzmaurice G: The 10-year course of psychosocial functioning among patients with borderline personality disorder and axis II comparison subjects. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 122:103–109, 2010.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Fortin MF. Fondements et étapes du processus de recherche/méthodes quantitatives et qualitatives, 2nd edn., Montréal, Chenilière éducation, 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Matuska K, Christiansen C: A proposed model of lifestyle balance. Journal of Occupational Science 15:9–19, 2008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. International Wellbeing Group: Personal Wellbeing Index: Adults (PWI-A), 4th edn., Melbourne, Australian Centre on Quality of Life, Deakin University, 2006. http://www.deakin.edu.au/research/acqol/instruments/wellbeing-index/pwi-a-english.pdf. Accessed August 2011.

  32. Deci EL, Ryan RM: The ‘’what’’ and ‘’why’’ of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry 11:227–268, 2000.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Smith NR, Kielhofner G, Watts JH: The relationships between volition, activity pattern, and life satisfaction in the elderly. American Journal of Occupational Therapy 40:278–283, 1986.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Lovibond SH, Lovibond PF: Manual for the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, 2nd edn., Sydney, Psychology Foundation of Australia, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Ferrans CE, Powers MJ: Quality of life index: Development and psychometric properties. Advances in Nursing Sciences 8:15–24, 1985.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Ferrans CE, Powers MJ: Quality of life index: Development and psychometric properties. Recherche en Soins Infirmiers 88:32–37, 2007.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Sansone RA, Sansone LA: Personality dysfunction and employment dysfunction: Double, double, toil and trouble. Psychiatry (Edgemont) 7:12–16, 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Cramer V, Torgersen S, Kringlen E: Personality disorders and quality of life. Comprehensive Psychiatry 47:178–184, 2006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Narud K, Mykletun A, Dahl AA: Quality of life in patients with personality disorders seen at an ordinary psychiatric outpatient clinic. BioMed Central Psychiatry 5:1471, 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Spencer EA. Toward balance of work and play: Promotion of health and wellness. Occupation Therapy in Health Care 5:87–99, 1989.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Hammell KW: Self-care, productivity, and leisure, or dimensions of occupational experience? Rethinking occupational “categories”. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy 76(2):107–114, 2009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Katsakou C, Marougka S, Barnicot K, Savill M, White H, Lockwood K, Priebe S: Recovery in borderline personality disorder (BPD): A qualitative study of service users’ perspectives. PLoS One 7:e36517, 2012.

  43. Larivière N, Couture É, Blackburn C, Carbonneau M, Lacombe C, Schinck SA, David P, St-Cyr-Tribble D: Recovery, as experienced by women with borderline personality disorder. Psychiatric Quarterly 86:555–568, 2015.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study would not have been possible without the availability of the women who participated and we are very grateful. The authors would like to sincerely thank the clinical teams in all the sites for their collaboration.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, J1H 5N4, Canada

    Nadine Larivière, Catherine Denis, Amélie Payeur, Amélie Ferron, Stéphanie Levesque & Guillaume Rivard

Authors
  1. Nadine Larivière
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Catherine Denis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Amélie Payeur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Amélie Ferron
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Stéphanie Levesque
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Guillaume Rivard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nadine Larivière.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The corresponding author received funding for this study from the Faculty of medicine and health sciences of the Université de Sherbrooke (Sherbrooke, Canada). Catherine Denis, Amélie Payeur, Amélie Ferron, Stéphanie Levesque and Guillaume Rivard declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

Statement for Studies with Human Subjects

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000 (5).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Larivière, N., Denis, C., Payeur, A. et al. Comparison of Objective and Subjective Life Balance Between Women With and Without a Personality Disorder. Psychiatr Q 87, 663–673 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-016-9417-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-016-9417-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation