Immature Defense Mechanisms and Vulnerable Narcissism: Mediating Roles of Shame and Attachment Anxiety
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Objective: This study examined shame and attachment anxiety as mediators in the relationship between immature defense mechanisms and vulnerable narcissism among university students.
Methods and Materials: This cross-sectional correlational study included 250 university students from Kermanshah, Iran, recruited through convenience sampling. Participants completed the Pathological Narcissism Inventory, Defense Style Questionnaire-40, Guilt and Shame Proneness Scale, and Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlations were computed using SPSS-26, and path analysis was performed using AMOS-24. Missing data below 5% were handled using multiple imputation.
Findings: Immature defense mechanisms were positively correlated with vulnerable narcissism (r = 0.43, p < 0.01), shame (r = 0.40, p < 0.01), and attachment anxiety (r = 0.47, p < 0.01). Vulnerable narcissism was also positively correlated with shame (r = 0.42, p < 0.01) and attachment anxiety (r = 0.44, p < 0.01). The model showed acceptable fit: RMSEA = 0.07, CFI = 0.93, GFI = 0.97, and χ²/df = 2.42. Immature defense mechanisms directly predicted vulnerable narcissism (β = 0.22, p < 0.001), shame (β = 0.40, p < 0.001), and attachment anxiety (β = 0.47, p < 0.001). Indirect effects through shame (β = 0.223, p < 0.001) and attachment anxiety (β = 0.260, p < 0.001) were significant.
Conclusion: Shame and attachment anxiety partially mediated the association between immature defense mechanisms and vulnerable narcissism. Therapeutic interventions targeting shame, attachment insecurity, and maladaptive defenses may reduce vulnerable narcissistic traits.
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