Psychometric Properties of the French Version of the Borderline Personality Features Scale for Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Background: The Borderline Personality Feature Scale for Children (BPFS-C) is currently the only dimensional measure of child and adolescent borderline features and the English version has been shown to have good psychometric properties. To extend the use of this measure with French speaking adolescents, it is essential to examine the reliability and validity of the French BPFS-C. Objective: The present study sought to assess the psychometric properties of the French BPFS-C. Methods: A community sample of 394 adolescents and young adults completed the Borderline Personality Features Scale for Children (BPFS-C), as well as the Million Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI) borderline tendency subscale, the Child Behavior Checklist- Youth Self-Report (CBCL-YSR) and the Beck Youth Inventories (BYI). Results: The findings show that both the long and short French BPFS-C have good internal consistency and convergent validity. Affect regulation, identity, relationship difficulties and self-harm were found to be closely inter-connected rather than distinct factors. Conclusion: The findings indicate that both long and short versions of French BPFS-C have good psychometric properties and provide preliminary evidence that the total scores are reliable and valid indicators of borderline personality features in adolescents and young adults.