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Pathological narcissism and maladaptive self-regulatory behaviours in a nationally representative sample of Canadian

David Kealy1, John S Ogrodniczuk1, Simon M Rice2

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

Psychiatry Research
|June 23, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Pathological narcissism is linked to alcohol overuse and aggressive behavior in Canadian men. This highlights narcissism as a significant public health concern requiring clinical attention.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Externalizing coping strategies, including substance misuse and aggression, are clinically associated with narcissistic personality disorder.
  • Understanding the link between pathological narcissism and maladaptive behaviors is crucial for men's mental health.
  • Self-regulatory behaviors are key in managing psychological well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between pathological narcissism and maladaptive self-regulatory behaviors in a Canadian male population.
  • To determine if pathological narcissism predicts externalizing coping strategies.
  • To explore potential moderating factors like age and psychological distress.

Main Methods:

  • A nationally representative online survey of 1000 Canadian men.
  • Utilized validated self-report measures for pathological narcissism, maladaptive externalizing coping behaviors, and psychological distress.
  • Statistical analyses controlled for age and general psychological distress.

Main Results:

  • Pathological narcissism significantly correlated with alcohol overuse and aggressive behavior, even after controlling for covariates.
  • Modest interaction effects observed: pathological narcissism interacted with age concerning drug use, and with distress regarding risk-taking behavior.
  • Findings underscore the clinical relevance of pathological narcissism in understanding men's externalizing behaviors.

Conclusions:

  • Pathological narcissism is a significant predictor of maladaptive externalizing behaviors, specifically alcohol overuse and aggression, in Canadian men.
  • Age and psychological distress may moderate the relationship between pathological narcissism and certain maladaptive behaviors.
  • Narcissistic dysfunction warrants recognition as a critical clinical and public health issue among men.
Keywords:
AggressionMaladaptive behavioursMen's healthPathological narcissismRisk-taking behaviourSubstance use

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