Borderline personality manifests in female adolescence and youth by higher frequency of deviant behaviors and suicidal ideations. Psychological models suggests that both perception and relationship to physical pain (Joiner, 2005, O’Connor, Kirtley, 2018, Galynker, 2017) as well as psychological pain (Eisenberger et al., 2003) could increase the risk.

This study concentrates on the relationship between relationship to physical and psychological pain and reported deviant behavior in female adolescents.

204 female adolescents (13-21 years old) filled checklist appraising alcohol use, drug use, aggressive behavior, suicidal ideations and emotional difficulties (Cronbach’s alphas .67-.89), Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (Van Orden et al., 2012), Discomfort Intolerance Scale (Schmidt et al., 2006), The Pain Catastrophizing Scale (Sullivan et al., 1995).

Elder females more frequently reported substance use (r=.23-.28) and less frequently aggressive behavior (r=-.19) while suicidal ideations were unrelated to age. Females reporting higher perceived burdensomeness and emotional difficulties also reported higher alcohol use (r=.25-.29), aggressive behavior (r=.37-.42) and suicidal ideations (r=.64-.84). Thwarted belongingness correlated with suicidal ideations (r=.50) and aggressive behavior (r=.26). Higher alcohol use was associated with catastrophizing of pain in the form of magnification and helplessness (r=.17) while suicidal ideations and aggressive behavior were related to ruminations, magnification and helplessness (r=.23-.33). Only correlations between aggression and pain catastrophizing remained significant after statistical control of psychological pain (r=.15-.22).

After control for psychological pain, only aggressive behavior is related to catastrophizing of physical pain. Study is supported by Russian science Foundation, project 22-28-01524.

Study is supported by Russian Science Foundation, project 22-28-01524.

Perception of and relationship to pain are considered as important factors of suicidal behavior (Joiner, 2005, Klonsky & May, 2015, O’Connor & Kirtley, 2018, Galynker, 2017). Some studies of pain demonstrated that there are common mechanisms of emotional and physical pain (DeWall & Baumeister, 2006, MacDonald & Leary, 2005, Eisenberger, Lieberman, & Williams, 2003).

The aim was to validate Discomfort Intolerance Scale and Pain Catastrophizing Scale on the female adolescent sample and to reveal their relationship to suicidal experience.

183 adolescents females (13-21 years old) filled Discomfort Intolerance Scale (Schmidt, Richey, & Fitzpatrick, 2006) and The Pain Catastrophizing Scale (Sullivan, Bishop, & Pivik, 1995). Then they replied to items related to their own or their friends’ suicidal experience.

Factor analysis for PCS explained 73.6% of variance with Cronbach’s alphas .77-.91. Factor analysis of DIS explained 67.1% of variance with Cronbach’s alphas .63-.70. There were no relationships between suicidal-related experience and pain-related experience.

Discomfort Intolerance Scale and Pain Catastrophizing Scale could be used as reliable and valid methods of measuring relationship to pain in studies of adolescents, although we found no associations between them and suicidal intentions.