Emotional struggles are linked to vulnerable narcissism but not grandiose narcissism, meta-analysis finds

A recent statistical analysis of data from over 12,000 adults reveals a correlation between emotional struggles and a particular type of narcissism, while showing no link to another. The study, published in Personality and Individual Differences, found that individuals with insecure and defensive narcissistic traits tend to have difficulty controlling their emotions, while those with more boastful, dominant narcissistic traits do not report these same struggles.

This research helps clarify why previous studies on narcissism and emotional health have yielded conflicting results, and may point to specific emotional skills that could be targeted in therapy. Trait narcissism refers to a persistent pattern of personality traits centered on interpersonal antagonism, including feeling entitled, manipulating others, and lacking empathy.

Narcissism is generally divided into two subtypes: grandiose and vulnerable. Grandiose narcissism is characterized by an outgoing, dominant, attention-seeking, and aggressively self-confident style, while vulnerable narcissism involves introversion, fragile self-esteem, deep feelings of inadequacy, and heightened sensitivity to rejection.

Both forms of narcissism are associated with problems in relationships, but a 2024 meta-analysis found that violence was more strongly linked to vulnerable narcissism (correlation of 0.25) than to grandiose narcissism (0.11). Emotion dysregulation, or difficulty understanding, managing, and responding to feelings in a healthy way, is a promising target for improving the functioning of narcissistic individuals in daily life.

Researchers believe that understanding the emotional difficulties experienced by narcissistic individuals could help develop targeted interventions to address these issues.