Naughty or Narc? The Frequency of Narcissistic Traits in Child Psychiatric Disorders

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  • February 26, 2019
Creator
  • Moore, Kendall D.
    • Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience
Abstract
  • Objective: The primary goal of the present study was to assess differing levels of narcissistic traits in children diagnosed with bipolar disorder, conduct disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder. Other variables taken into account were gender and socioeconomic background in order to evaluate any changes in participants’ narcissism scores due to these factors. Method: Secondary analysis of de-identified data was performed from a preexisting research study (NIH R01MH066647). An original narcissism measure was derived from both the parent and self-report versions of the Antisocial Process Screening Device, focusing on items that pertained to narcissistic tendencies in psychopathic adolescents. Results: Differences in narcissism due to gender and socioeconomic background were generally small and not statistically significant. Children diagnosed with conduct disorder scored significantly higher on the narcissism scales than children diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder (p < .0001), but children diagnosed with bipolar disorder were not statistically different from children with conduct disorder. A regression analysis did indicate bipolar disorder as a possible predictor of narcissism when controlling for manic and depressive episodes (p < .05). Conclusion: The construct of narcissism is seen at varying levels amongst children diagnosed with bipolar, conduct, and oppositional defiant disorder. Children with conduct disorder generally had the most prevalent narcissistic behaviors, possibly due to factors of age, bipolar disorder having more conceptually-based manic symptoms, and oppositional defiant disorder having higher rates of comorbid unipolar depression. These findings could alter practitioner therapeutic strategies where it should be of interest to screen for additional narcissistic behaviors in children diagnosed with bipolar and conduct disorder and to understand how these behaviors, if present, might affect therapy. Further research should focus on whether bipolar disorder is indeed a significant predictor of increased narcissistic tendencies as well as whether socioeconomic background affects the development of narcissistic traits.
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  • In Copyright
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  • Funding: None
Advisor
  • Youngstrom, Eric
Degree
  • Bachelor of Science
Honors level
  • Highest Honors
Degree granting institution
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Extent
  • 45

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