Dark Triad Traits and Financial Well-Being: The Mediating Role of Money Management and Socioeconomic Status

Abstract

This study tested the mediating effects of financial management and perceived socioeconomic status on the relationship between Dark Triad traits and financial well-being. A sample of 1,550 participants (62.1% women; age 17–86, M = 40.7, SD = 13.87) completed an online questionnaire assessing Dark Triad traits, financial management, financial well-being, and perceived socioeconomic status. Spearman correlations and mediation analyses with bootstrapping (5000 iterations) were applied. Machiavellianism and narcissism were positively related to financial management, whereas psychopathy showed negative associations. Narcissism was further linked to higher perceived socioeconomic status, while psychopathy predicted lower status. Mediation analyses revealed that the positive association between narcissism and financial well-being operated through stronger financial management and elevated perceived socioeconomic status. In contrast, the detrimental effect of psychopathy on financial well-being was mediated by poor financial management and lower socioeconomic status. These results indicate that Machiavellian and narcissistic tendencies can foster adaptive financial management, yet only narcissism enhances subjective socioeconomic appraisal. Psychopathy, conversely, is characterized by maladaptive management strategies, diminished socioeconomic perceptions, and reduced financial well-being. The study emphasizes the pivotal role of both financial management and subjective socioeconomic evaluation in linking personality traits with financial well-being. Targeted interventions aimed at strengthening self-regulation and financial planning may buffer the adverse financial outcomes particularly associated with psychopathic traits.