<b>ASSOCIATION BETWEEN RESILIENCE, PERSONALITY DISORDER SEVERITY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY</b>

Background: Personality disorders (PDs) are enduring patterns of maladaptive cognition, emotional regulation, interpersonal functioning, and behavior that substantially impair psychosocial functioning and overall quality of life (QoL). Individuals with personality disorders frequently experience persistent emotional distress, unstable interpersonal relationships, occupational dysfunction, social isolation, and reduced psychological well-being. Although previous studies have documented poor quality of life among individuals with personality disorders, the psychosocial factors underlying this relationship remain insufficiently explored, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where mental health resources are limited. Objective: To explore the psychosocial factors linking personality disorders to quality of life among patients diagnosed with personality disorders. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study included 250 patients with personality disorders. Consecutive sampling was used. Sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial variables were assessed using validated instruments, including WHOQOL-BREF for quality of life. Data were analyzed using SPSS v26 with descriptive, correlation, comparative, and regression analyses (p<0.05) across all statistical tests conducted appropriately. Results: Higher perceived social support and adaptive coping were significantly associated with better QoL across all domains (p < .001). In contrast, increased perceived stress, impaired interpersonal functioning, and lower self-esteem were significantly associated with poorer QoL (p < .001). Multiple regression identified social support, stress, coping strategies, and interpersonal functioning as independent predictors of overall QoL. Conclusion: Psychosocial factors play a pivotal role in determining quality of life among individuals with personality disorders. Interventions that strengthen social support, improve coping skills, reduce psychological stress, and enhance interpersonal functioning may substantially improve patient outcomes. Integrating psychosocial assessment into routine psychiatric care may contribute to comprehensive management and improved long-term quality of life for individuals living with personality disorders.