Influence of Childhood Maltreatment on Narcissism

Research has previously suggested an association between childhood maltreatment and narcissism. However, this research has primarily focused on the grandiose dimension of narcissism. This contrasts with a multi-dimensional approach to understanding narcissistic pathology, which emphasizes both grandiosity and vulnerability. Research suggests that one factor associated with narcissistic grandiosity is childhood maltreatment, although the association between child maltreatment and narcissistic vulnerability is unclear. In this study, we examine the association between different forms of childhood maltreatment and dimensions of narcissism in a sample of men and women recruited online (N = 306) using a Bayesian approach to structural equation modeling. Results suggest that for women, physical abuse was positively associated with grandiose narcissism, and that physical neglect was positively associated with vulnerable narcissism over and above other traumatic experiences. For men, there were no positive associations between maltreatment or other traumatic experiences and narcissism. Study findings clarify the role of childhood maltreatment on narcissism and have potential implications for the treatment of narcissistic pathology.