Moslem Rajabi - Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Jafar Sarani Yaztappeh - Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Sajad Khanjani - Department of linical Psychology, School of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mohamad Davood Mohebi - Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
Mohammad Javad Bagian Kulehmarzi - Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.

Objectives: Patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) often develop a certain depression that may be accompanied by “mental pain.” A negative self-concept, aversive chronic emotions, and pervasive helplessness characterize mental pain. This research aims to explore the pathology of BPD symptomatology in a nonclinical sample. Also, the role of mental pain, cognitive emotion regulation, self-compassion, and depression are assessed. Methods: Following a correlational study, ۳۰۰ university students were selected via the multi-stage random cluster sampling method. The study data were collected by the personality assessment inventory-borderline features scale, Orbach and Mikulincer mental pain questionnaire, cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire, self-compassion scale (SCS-SF), and Beck depression inventory version ۲. Results: Multiple regression analyses indicated that components of putting into perspective, rumination, loss of control, refocus on planning, catastrophizing, irreversibility, somatic, and isolation (ΔR۲=۰.۵۰۷, P<۰.۰۰۱) significantly predicted BPD symptomatology. Discussion: The results support the biosocial model dimensions in an Iranian context. In addition, it shows a strong association between mental pain, cognitive emotion regulation, self-compassion, depression, and BPD symptoms. Coresponding author: Mohammad Javad Bagian Kulehmarzi, E-mail: javadbagiyan@yahoo.com

Borderline personality disorder, Self-compassion, Mental pain, Depression, Cognitive emotion regulation strategies