Which Narcissists Are More Stressed? The Link Between Narcissistic Forms and Stress Experience in a Five-Day Diary Study During COVID-19

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between different forms of narcissism and stress, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a mixed-method diary design, 427 participants were surveyed over five consecutive days to examine the associations between their stress levels and stress experiences concerning agentic grandiose, communal grandiose, antagonistic, and vulnerable narcissism. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative analyses. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted. Quantitative findings indicate that narcissism is weakly associated with stress, with stronger links for vulnerable and antagonistic narcissism and weaker associations for grandiose forms. Among all types, communal grandiose narcissism showed the weakest association with stress. Qualitative analyses revealed that narcissists displayed little concern for communal stressors, highlighting the central role of antagonism in the narcissism–stress link. These findings contribute to the narcissistic personality spectrum by demonstrating how different narcissistic traits shape stress perceptions, with implications for interventions targeting individuals high in narcissistic vulnerability and antagonism.