EFFECT OF NARCISSISM ON PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS: THE ROLES OF EMOTION REGULATION SKILLS AND PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT

Abstract

In recent years, studies on the two-dimensional structure of narcissism with its grandiose and vulnerable aspects have intensified. This study emphasizes that there is a significant mediation role of emotional regulation skills and perceived multidimensional social support between narcissism and psychological distress. A Total 442 participants (74% female) between aged 18 and 51 (M = 24.98, SD = 7.76) attained to the study. The research used scales assessing emotional regulation skills (ERS), narcissism (PNI), perceived social support (MSPSS), and psychological distress (DASS). Results indicated significant negative associations between ERS dimensions and vulnerable narcissism, and no associations with grandiose narcissism. There are significant positive associations between MSPSS dimensions and grandiose narcissism, but negative associations with vulnerable narcissism. The study suggest that different emotion regulation skills may stem from narcissistic vulnerability and affect the psychological distress variable through perceived social support. As a result of the current study, we found that emotional regulation skill is important for vulnerable narcissism to regulate emotion, and it can be regulated through perceived social support; however, it is understood that the perception of social support becomes more difficult due to narcissistic characteristics