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- The Effect of Covert Narcissism on Relationship Addiction in Early Adulthood: The Double Mediating Effects of Distress Tolerance and Emotion Dysregulation
- Hyojin Kim, Jong-Nam Kim
- STRESS. 2026;34(3):125-134. Published online September 30, 2026
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.17547/kjsr.2026.34.3.125
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- 8 Download
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Abstract
PDF - Background
This study examined the pathway through which covert narcissism leads to relationship addiction through distress tolerance and emotion dysregulation in early adulthood.
Methods
Data were collected from 394 Korean adults aged 18–39 years who were recruited using online convenience sampling. Participants completed measures of covert narcissism, distress tolerance, emotion dysregulation, and relationship addiction. The PROCESS macro was used for data analysis.
Results
Both distress tolerance and emotion dysregulation partially mediated the relationship between covert narcissism and relationship addiction. Their double mediating effect was also significant, and the direct effect of covert narcissism on relationship addiction remained significant. This pattern remained when gender was included as a covariate.
Conclusions
Individuals with high covert narcissism are sensitive to negative evaluations and easily hurt, thereby lowering their capacity to tolerate distress and intensifying difficulties in emotion regulation. Subsequently, they attempt to fulfil their unmet needs through others and become excessively absorbed in relationships. Therefore, interventions may be more effective when self-compassion-based approaches are used first to strengthen distress tolerance, followed by emotion regulation skills training, such as dialectical behavior therapy.
- The Effects of Anxious Attachment on Social Anxiety in College Students: Mediation Effects of Self-Esteem, Shame and Narcissistic Vulnerability
- Yong Hee Kim
- STRESS. 2019;27(2):174-182. Published online June 30, 2019
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.17547/kjsr.2019.27.2.174
- 6,202 View
- 107 Download
- 3 Citations
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Abstract
PDF
Background: This study aimed to examine the effect of anxious attachment on social anxiety in college students and to identify the mediation effects of self-esteem, shame and narcissistic vulnerability in using structural equation modeling.
Methods: College students participated in this study.
Results: First, all variables in this study had statistically significant correlation. Second, the relationship of anxious attachment and social anxiety was significantly mediated by self –esteem and shame, respectively. Finally, the two serial multiple mediation effects were also significant from anxious attachment to self-esteem, shame and narcissistic vulnerability or social anxiety successively.
Conclusions: These results suggest that students’ unstable attachment can affect social anxiety or narcissistic vulnerability by mediating negative affect such as low self-esteem and shame. An intervention for students’ social anxiety is important in controlling their mental health.
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Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
- Pathological online game use of secondary vocational school students: Current situation and its relation to self-esteem and self-identity
Lixian Yang, Yuan Chen, Mengxia Zhang, Jinkun Zhang
Frontiers in Psychiatry.2022;[Epub] CrossRef - The Relationship between Mindfulness and Shame: Moderated Mediating Effect of Self- Blame and Self- Compassion for College Students
Yong Hee Kim
Stress.2020; 28(1): 17. CrossRef - The Effects of Pathological Narcissism on Social Anxiety: Mediation Effects of Difference of Self-Presentational Motivation and Self-Presentational Expectation and Anger Rumination
Yong Hee Kim
STRESS.2019; 27(4): 304. CrossRef
- Pathological online game use of secondary vocational school students: Current situation and its relation to self-esteem and self-identity
- The Influence of Covert Narcissistic Tendency on Interpersonal Satisfaction: The Mediating Effect of Ambivalence over Emotional Expressiveness
- Hye Ji Yun, Myoung-Ho Hyun
- STRESS. 2018;26(4):332-339. Published online December 31, 2018
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.17547/kjsr.2018.26.4.332
- 4,687 View
- 62 Download
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Abstract
PDF
Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the mediating effect of ambivalence over emotional expressiveness on the relationship between covert narcissistic tendency of adults in their twenties and the satisfaction of interpersonal relations.
Methods: 194 male and female adults in their twenties completed the self-report questionnaires on covert narcissism, ambivalence over emotional expressiveness, and interpersonal satisfaction. A mediated model was tested using the SPSS Macro by Hayes.
Results: We verified that the ambivalence over emotional expressiveness played a mediating role in the relationship between covert narcissistic tendency and interpersonal satisfaction. In terms of the characteristics of relationship, except for the superior person, the relationship between lover/spouse and friends/colleagues showed the mediating effect between covert narcissism and interpersonal satisfaction.
Conclusions: The covert narcissistic tendency itself affects low interpersonal satisfaction, but the ambivalence over emotional expressiveness affects low interpersonal satisfaction when the covert narcissist interacts with lover/spouse, friends/colleagues. We discussed the directions of intervention for the covert narcissist having low satisfaction in relationships, limitations and future suggestions of this research.
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