The Subclinical Spectrum: Identity Disturbance and Social Media Engagement in Emerging Borderline Personality Features

This study investigates how different forms of social media engagement (image based, belief based, comparison based and consumption based) relate to identity disturbance among young adults exhibiting nonclinical, subclinical, and clinical levels of borderline personality features. The sample included 200 Pakistani university students between the ages of 18-24. As per the results of the study image based, belief based, and comparison based social media engagement was strongly associated with, and significantly predicted, higher identity disturbance, whereas consumption-based engagement did not. Additionally, the subclinical group showed greater identity disturbance and higher engagement in image and belief-based engagement as compared to both nonclinical and clinical groups. These findings suggest that individuals with elevated borderline personality features are more prone to identity disturbance when they actively present idealized versions of themselves, seek external validation, or engage in frequent self-expression online. Lastly, limitations include relying on self-report measures, a cross-sectional design that does not include causal inference, and a culturally specific sample size. Future longitudinal and cross-cultural studies which include random sampling is recommended to clarify developmental trajectories and enhance generalizability.