Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9871-6469

Date Available

12-15-2025

Year of Publication

2025

Document Type

Doctoral Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

College

Arts and Sciences

Department/School/Program

Psychology

Faculty

Shannon Sauer-Zavala

Faculty

Mike Bardo

Abstract

Borderline personality disorder impacts roughly 1.6% of the general population yet only a quarter of people with BPD are able to access treatment. Understanding the mechanisms that promote behavior change in treatment is crucial for improving care for this population. Experiential avoidance has been linked to risky behaviors, a prevalent and debilitating symptom observed in BPD. Values identification may be a fruitful avenue for engaging experiential avoidance in treatment. The goal of the present study is to understand the unique and combined effects of values identification and behavior change skills (i.e., opposite actions, exposure) on experiential avoidance (target), maladaptive behavior use (outcome), and BPD symptoms (downstream clinical endpoint). Using a single-case experimental design, participants were randomly assigned to a 2-, 4-, or 6-week baseline assessment phase followed by either four sessions of values identification or four sessions of behavior change skills. Those who completed values identification first then completed four sessions of behavior change, whereas those who received behavior change skills first subsequently completed four sessions of values identification. Participants who received the values module first show more gradual improvement in BPD symptoms over the course of treatment compared to those who received the values module second.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2025.622

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