Pathological Narcissism: A Study of Burden on Partners and Family
Abstract
Pathological narcissism is characterized by impaired interpersonal functioning, but few studies have examined the impact of the disorder on those living in a close relationship. Participants (N = 683; comprising romantic partners [77.8%], mothers [8.5%] or other family members [10%]) in a close relationship with a relative with pathological narcissism completed measures assessing levels of grief, burden, mental health, and coping style. Participants’ reported burden was over 1.5 standard deviations above comparison carers of people with mood, neurotic, or psychotic disorders, and higher than carers of people with borderline personality disorder. Similarly, caseness for depression (69% of sample) or anxiety disorders (82%) in the sample was high. Relationship type, subtype expression (vulnerable/grandiose), and coping style were all found to significantly relate to experienced psychopathology. Although limitations exist regarding sample selection that may influence interpretation of results, these findings quantify the significant interpersonal impact of pathological narcissism in this sample.
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A total score of 36 on the SB-PNI-CV indicates the presence of pathologically narcissistic traits.
“By summing participant responses, a total score of 36 indicates that participants scored on average ‘a little like my relative’ to all questions, indicating the presence of pathologically narcissistic traits.”
From Living with pathological narcissism: a qualitative study (2020) · cites this paper as [33]
Antagonism, hostility and resultant interpersonal dysfunction are well-documented aspects of pathological narcissism that exact a large toll on individuals in the relationship.
“This antagonism, hostility and the resultant interpersonal dysfunction are well-documented aspects of pathological narcissism [29–32], that exacts a large toll on individuals in the relationship [33, 34].”
From Living with pathological narcissism: a qualitative study (2020) · cites this paper as [33]
This defence comes at a high cost, whether to the self when defensive grandiosity fails or to others in interpersonal relationships.
“This defence, however, comes at a high cost, whether it be to the self when the defensive grandiosity fails (triggering disintegrating bouts of vulnerability) or to others, as this style of relating exacts a high toll on those in interpersonal relationships [33].”
From Living with pathological narcissism: a qualitative study (2020) · cites this paper as [33]
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Living with pathological narcissism: a qualitative study
Day, N. J. S., Townsend, M. L., & Grenyer, B. F. S. (2020) · Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation · doi:10.1186/s40479-020-00132-8 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
“This measure was then adapted into a carer version (SB-PNI-CV) in the current research, consistent with previous methodology [33] by changing all selfreferential terms (i.”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialSelf-citationPathological narcissism: An analysis of interpersonal dysfunction within intimate relationships
Day, N. J. S., Townsend, M. L., & Grenyer, B. F. S. (2022) · Personality and Mental Health · doi:10.1002/pmh.1532 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
“2022;16:204–216.wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/pmh psychological distress (Bailey & Grenyer, 2014; Day et al., 2019).”
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van Schie, C. C., Jarman, H. L., Huxley, E., & Grenyer, B. F. S. (2020) · Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation · doi:10.1186/s40479-020-00125-7 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
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Self-citationBiberdzic, M., Tan, J., & Day, N. J. S. (2023) · Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation · doi:10.1186/s40479-022-00209-6 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
“, identity cohesion, occupational functioning), however the true ‘adaptiveness’ of this process is worth questioning [51] as the resulting narcissistic style often begets significant distress for those in the individual’s relational sphere [16, 60].”
Self-citationA clinician's quick guide to evidence‐based approaches: Narcissistic personality disorder
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Self-citationAdverse childhood experiences leading to narcissistic personality disorder: a case report
Ross, A. G., Giri, S., Anyasodor, A. E., Mahmood, S., Astawesegn, F. H., Huda, M. M., Ahmed, K. Y., Mondal, U. K., & Thapa, S. (2024) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-024-06307-9 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
- Authors
- Day, N. J. S., Bourke, M. E., Townsend, M. L., & Grenyer, B. F. S.
- Affiliations
- University of Wollongong (AU)
- Venue
- Journal of Personality Disorders
- Publisher
- Guilford Publications
- Published
- 2020-12
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 799-813
- ISSN
- 0885-579X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2912840782
- Semantic Scholar
- 6ea66122c12b057517ad60b4b3a453715a4b2a32
- Cited by
- 40
- References
- 44
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 4
- FWCI
- 3.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Personality Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Online (University of Wollongong) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
- Keywords
- pathological narcissism, caregiver burden, romantic partners, family members, grief, depression, anxiety disorders, coping styles, vulnerable narcissism, grandiose narcissism, borderline personality disorder, interpersonal functioning
- MeSH terms
- Anxiety Disorders, Borderline Personality Disorder, Family, Humans, Narcissism, Caregivers
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