Skip to main content
Search
Search
    Quick Search anywhere
    Quick search in Citations
Advanced Search
Skip main navigationClose Drawer MenuOpen Drawer Menu
Previous article
Next article
Original Article

Dimensions of Adolescent Narcissism

A Variable-Centered Versus Person-Centered Approach

Published Online:March 21, 2019https://doi.org/10.1027/1614-0001/a000287

Abstract

Abstract. Research with adolescents has noted that narcissism dimensions (e.g., non-pathological, grandiose, vulnerable) are often interrelated but have differential associations with indicators of adjustment. The aim of the present study was to investigate both variable-centered and person-centered analyses of commonly used narcissism scales in adolescents. Participants were 282 at-risk male adolescents ages 16–19 attending a voluntary residential program. Variable-centered analyses revealed correlations for the narcissism dimensions that were consistent with prior research. Person-centered analyses resulted in three subgroups (i.e., high pathological narcissism; moderate pathological narcissism; low narcissism). Individuals in the high pathological narcissism subgroup reported lower self-esteem, higher anxiety, and higher aggression than the other groups. However, the utility of a person-centered approach in adolescents is questionable in that the subgroups simply differed incrementally based on pathological grandiose and vulnerable narcissism.

References

  • Barry, C. T., Frick, P. J. & Killian, A. L. (2003). The relation of narcissism and self-esteem to conduct problems in children. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 32, 139–152. https://doi.org/10.1207/15374420360533130 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Barry, C. T., Grafeman, S. J., Adler, K. K. & Pickard, J. D. (2007). The relations among narcissism, self-esteem, and delinquency in a sample of at-risk adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 30, 933–942. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2006.12.003 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Barry, C. T. & Kauten, R. L. (2014). Non-pathological and pathological narcissism: Which self-reported characteristics are most problematic in adolescents? Journal of Personality Assessment, 96, 212–219. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223891.2013.830264 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Barry, C. T. & Lee-Rowland, L. M. (2015). Has there been a recent change in adolescent narcissism? Preliminary evidence from cohorts of at-risk adolescents (2005–2014). Personality and Individual Differences, 87, 153–157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2015.07.038 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Barry, C. T., Loflin, D. C. & Doucette, H. (2015). Adolescent self-compassion: Associations with narcissism, self-esteem, aggression, and internalizing symptoms in at-risk males. Personality and Individual Differences, 77, 118–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2014.12.036 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Barry, C. T., Lui, J. H. L., Lee-Rowland, L. M. & Moran, E. V. (2017). Adolescent communal narcissism and peer perceptions. Journal of Personality, 85, 782–792. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12287 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Barry, C. T. & Wallace, M. T. (2010). Current considerations in the assessment of youth narcissism: Indicators of pathological and normative development. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 32, 479–489. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-010-9188-3 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Gambin, M., Gambin, T. & Sharp, C. (2015). Social cognition, psychopathological symptoms, and family functioning in a sample of inpatient adolescents using variable-centered and person-centered approaches. Journal of Adolescence, 45, 31–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2015.08.010 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Grafeman, S. J., Barry, C. T., Marcus, D. K. & Leachman, L. L. (2015). Interpersonal perceptions of narcissism in an at-risk adolescent sample: A social relations analysis. Journal of Research in Adolescence, 25, 92–100. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12088 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Greene, K., Krcmar, M., Walters, L. H., Rubin, D. L. & Hale, J. L. (2000). Targeting adolescent risk-taking behaviors: The contribution of egocentrism and sensation-seeking. Journal of Adolescence, 23, 439–461. https://doi.org/10.1006/jado.2000.0330 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Herrington, L. L., Barry, C. T. & Loflin, D. C. (2014). Callous-unemotional traits, narcissism, and behavioral history as predictors of discipline problems in an adolescent residential program. Residential Treatment for Children and Youth, 31, 253–265. https://doi.org/10.1080/0886571X.2014.958341 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Krueger, R. F., Watson, D. & Barlow, D. H. (2005). Introduction to the special section: Towards a dimensionally based taxonomy of psychopathology. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 114, 491–493. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.114.4.491 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Marsee, M. A., Barry, C. T., Childs, K. K., Frick, P. J., Kimonis, E. R., Munoz, L. C., … Lau, K. S. L. (2011). Assessing the forms and functions of aggression using self-report: Factor structure and invariance of the Peer Conflict Scale in youths. Psychological Assessment, 23, 792–804. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023369 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Miller, J. D. & Campbell, W. K. (2011). Addressing criticisms of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI). In W. K. CampbellJ. D. MillerEds., The handbook of narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder (pp. 146–152). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118093108.ch13 First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Morey, L. C. (2007). Personality Assessment Inventory – Adolescent (PAI-A). North Tonawanda, NY: Multi-Health Systems. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Morf, C. C. & Rhodewalt, F. (2001). Unraveling the paradoxes of narcissism: A dynamic self-regulatory processing model. Psychological Inquiry, 12, 177–196. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1204_1 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Muthén, L. K. & Muthén, G. (2017). Mplus user’s guide (8th ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Muthén & Muthén. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Nylund, K. L., Asparouhov, T. & Muthén, B. O. (2007). Deciding on the number of classes in latent class analysis and growth mixture modeling: A Monte Carlo simulation study. Structural Equation Modeling, 14, 535–569. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705510701575396 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Pincus, A. L., Ansell, E. B., Pimentel, C. A., Cain, N. M., Wright, A. G. C. & Levy, K. N. (2009). Initial construction and validation of the Pathological Narcissism Inventory. Psychological Assessment, 21, 365–379. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016530 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Raskin, R. & Terry, H. (1988). A principal-components analysis of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory and further evidence of its construct validity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 890–902. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.54.5.890 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Sedikides, C., Rudich, E. A., Gregg, A. P., Kumashiro, M. & Rusbult, C. (2004). Are normal narcissists psychologically healthy? Self-esteem matters. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 87, 400–416. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.87.3.400 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Stellwagen, K. K. & Kerig, P. K. (2013). Ringleader bullying: Association with psychopathic narcissism and theory of mind among child psychiatric inpatients. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 44, 612–620. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-012-0355-5 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Swartout, K. M. & Swartout, A. G. (2012). Shifting perspectives: Applying person centered analyses to violence research. Psychology of Violence, 2, 309–312. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0029910 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Thomaes, S., Bushman, B. J., Orobio de Castro, B. & Stegge, H. (2009). What makes narcissists bloom? A framework for research on the etiology and development of narcissism. Development and Psychopathology, 21, 1233–1247. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579409990137 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Thomaes, S., Bushman, B. J., Stegge, H. & Olthof, T. (2008). Trumping shame by blasts of noise: Narcissism, self-esteem, shame, and aggression in young adolescents. Child Development, 79, 1792–1801. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2008.01226.x First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • White, K., Stahl, M. & Pratt, H. D. (2016). Childhood and adolescence: Perspectives on personality disorders. International Public Health Journal, 8, 445–453. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Wink, P. (1991). Two faces of narcissism. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, 590–597. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.61.4.590 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Zeigler-Hill, V., Clark, C. B. & Pickard, J. D. (2008). Narcissistic subtypes and contingent self-esteem: Do all narcissists base their self-esteem on the same domains? Journal of Personality, 74, 753–774. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2008.00503.x First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar