Meanings of narcissistic vulnerability in English

Indirect effects were significant in each model, indicating narcissistic vulnerability as a significant mediator.

With the inclusion of shame, narcissistic vulnerability and shame were significant as sequential mediators.

Aims: To investigate narcissistic vulnerability and shame as mediators between perceived childhood emotional neglect and depressive and generalized anxiety symptoms among psychiatric outpatients.

Results: Perceived emotional neglect was significantly associated with narcissistic vulnerability, which in turn was linked with depressive and generalized anxiety symptoms as separate dependent variables.

Conclusion: Narcissistic vulnerability and shame may operate as mechanisms in conferring affective symptom severity from perceived childhood emotional neglect.

Narcissistic vulnerability and susceptibility to shame may thus be important treatment targets when addressing psychological distress in the context of childhood adversity.