Abstract
Narcissistic vulnerability has been proposed as a dispositional feature that confers susceptibility to depression from earlier maladaptive parent-child relations. Limited research has examined narcissistic vulnerability as a mediator between perceived parental responsiveness and depressive symptoms, particularly with consideration of interpersonal motives such as needs for acceptance and belonging. A sample of 334 college undergraduates completed self-report measures of perceived parental responsiveness, narcissistic vulnerability, the need to belong, and depressive symptoms. Regression analyses using bootstrapped 99% confidence intervals tested a hypothesized moderated mediation model predicting depressive symptoms from parental responsiveness through narcissistic vulnerability as a mediator, moderated by the need to belong. Narcissistic vulnerability was found to significantly mediate the association between perceived parental responsiveness and depressive symptoms, with significant moderation by the need to belong. The mediating effect of narcissistic vulnerability was stronger as the need to belong increased. The findings indicate that narcissistic vulnerability may be an important mechanism in the link between childhood adversity and depressive symptoms, particularly when needs for acceptance from and inclusion with others are prominent.
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The dataset generated during and analysed during the current study is available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Notes
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Models were also tested using the individual maternal and paternal scores separately, with results differing negligibly. Hence, the model using the composite score was retained.
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Preparation of the manuscript was supported by funding awarded to the first author by the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, Scholar Award #18317.
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Kealy, D., Hewitt, P.L., Cox, D.W. et al. Narcissistic vulnerability and the need for belonging: Moderated mediation from perceived parental responsiveness to depressive symptoms. Curr Psychol 42, 2820–2826 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01644-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01644-4