Health and Medical Psychology Clinical Psychology

The Relationship Between Immature Defense Mechanisms and Vulnerable Narcissism: The Mediating Role of Shame and Attachment Anxiety vulnerability

https://doi.org/10.61838/ijbmc.v12i8.1064
Defense Mechanisms Narcissism Shame Attachment Anxiety

Authors

  • Amirmahdi Amraei MSc. student in Clinical Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
  • Aynaz Esmaeilian MSc. Student in Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, Ardabil branch, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran.
  • Mohammadamin Fotouhi Ardakani Msc Student of Clinical Psychology, Psychiatry and clinical psychology Department, School of Medicine, Ebnsina Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
  • Solmaz Dini PhD. in Psychology, Persian Gulf University, Iran.
  • Farshid Fathy Karkaragh PhD. student in health psychology, Department of psychology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
  • Roya Pooyanfard
    royapooyanfard@gmail.com
    MD assistant professor, Department of psychiatry , Shahid beheshti hospital , Afzalipour faculty of medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
In Press
Quantitative Study(ies)

Objective: Vulnerable narcissism, often marked by low self-esteem, is linked to significant psychological distress. This study investigates the relationship between immature defense mechanisms and vulnerable narcissism, exploring shame and attachment anxiety as potential mediators. Understanding these mediators may improve therapeutic approaches to vulnerable narcissism.

Methods and Materials: Using a correlational design and path analysis, we sampled approximately 250 university students from Kermanshah universities via convenience sampling. Participants completed the Pathological Narcissism Inventory (PNI), Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ-40), Guilt and Shame Proneness Scale (GASP), and Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R). SPSS was used for descriptive statistics, and Amos for path analysis.

Findings:  Immature defense mechanisms showed a positive association with vulnerable narcissism, shame, and attachment anxiety. Path analysis revealed a direct effect of immature defense mechanisms on vulnerable narcissism (β=0.22, p<0.001), as well as on shame (β=0.40, p<0.001) and attachment anxiety (β=0.47, p<0.001). Significant indirect effects were observed via shame (0.223, p<0.001) and attachment anxiety (0.260, p<0.001).

Conclusion:  Shame and attachment anxiety significantly mediate the relationship between immature defense mechanisms and vulnerable narcissism. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions addressing shame, insecure attachment, and maladaptive defenses to mitigate the negative consequences of vulnerable narcissism. Considering these factors during therapy with individuals exhibiting vulnerable narcissistic traits is recommended.