Individual characteristics in the association between childhood trauma and narcissism: The roles of alexithymia and body image

The purpose of this research was to investigate the roles of individual characteristics, mediating effects of alexithymia and body satisfaction and moderating effects of body image (objectified body consciousness and body modifications) in the association between childhood trauma and vulnerable and grandiose narcissism. The sample consisted of 814 Turkish adults aged between 18 and 66. The data were analyzed by quantitative methods. The study finds that childhood trauma is positively associated with pathological narsissism. Furthermore, both alexithymia and body image were found to be a partial mediator connecting childhood trauma with pathological narcissism. Moreover there were significant various moderation effects of and behavioral (body modifications), cognitive (objectified body consciousness) and emotional (body satisfaction) body image. There were moderation effects of behavioral body image (body modification) between childhood traumas and self sacrificing. There were moderation effects of cognitive body image (body shame and body surveillance). There was a significiant moderation effects of body shame between body satisfaction and four dimensions of narcissism (vulnerable narcissism, vulnerable self, expectations to be noticed, self-sacrifice). There was a significant moderation effect of body surveillance between body satisfaction and expectations to be noticed. There were moderation effects of emotional body image (body satisfaction) between alexithymia and self sacrificing. The results shown the intricate and notable role of body image. Evaluating and accepting body image as a presumption will help exploring comorbidity and a holistic model for treatment planning. Keywords: Childhood Trauma, Narcissism, Alexithymia, Body Image, Individual Characteristics