Dark Personality Traits and Burnout as Predictors of Relational Aggression: A Study in Young Adults

Background Relational aggression - covert behaviors such as social exclusion, guilt induction, and malicious humor - is increasingly observed among young adults. While dark personality traits (narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy) are known to predict such behaviors, the influence of burnout - a state of emotional exhaustion and detachment - on this relationship remains underexplored. Aim This study aimed to examine how dark triad traits and burnout interact in predicting relational aggression in a non-clinical young adult population. Methods A total of 200 participants aged 18-30 years completed standardized self-report measures assessing dark triad traits, burnout, and relational aggression. Sociodemographic variables, including gender and substance use, were also analyzed. Results Higher levels of dark traits were associated with increased relational aggression. Males scored significantly higher in psychopathy and indirect aggression subtypes. Participants reporting cannabis and alcohol use showed higher aggression, with cannabis users scoring the highest. Those with high dark traits but low burnout reported the most aggression, while high burnout weakened the expression of these traits. This suggests burnout may temporarily dampen socially harmful behaviors. Conclusion Dark personality traits contribute to indirect aggression, but this effect is influenced by emotional exhaustion. Burnout may act as a psychological buffer, reducing the behavioral expression of these traits. These findings highlight the importance of assessing both personality and emotional state in understanding interpersonal difficulties, even in non-clinical populations.