Pathological narcissism and psychological distress: The mediating effects of vitality, initiative, and mindfulness.

Pathological narcissism has been theorized to diminish one's sense of vitality, initiative, and mindfulness. These aspects of positive psychological functioning may account for the association between pathological narcissism and psychological distress symptoms. Given limited empirical exploration of this issue, the present study examined whether narcissistic grandiosity and vulnerability were associated with vitality, initiative, and mindfulness. Mediation analysis examined vitality, initiative, and mindfulness as parallel mediators to depression and anxiety symptoms. Results indicated vitality, initiative, and mindfulness were negatively associated with narcissistic vulnerability, but not with narcissistic grandiosity. Further, the association between narcissistic vulnerability and psychological distress was significantly mediated by vitality and mindfulness. • Grandiose and vulnerable narcissism were associated with psychological distress. • Vulnerable Narcissism was associated with vitality, initiative and mindfulness. • Vitality and mindfulness mediated vulnerable narcissism and psychological distress [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]