Self-other model of narcissistic depression: The mediating role of rejection sensitivity and self-compassion between vulnerable narcissism and depressive inclinations

Theoretical accounts support that vulnerable narcissist's efforts to avoid rejection in order to increase contingent and oscillating self-worth facing downwards in majority of times are the forerunner and maintaining representative agents of his or her depression. Vulnerable narcissism, depression, self-compassion, and rejection sensitivity have been distinctly examined and found to be associated in various research. However what is missing is a demonstration of those previously recognized associations in a structural model. The present study investigated those associations using structural equation modeling (SEM). Data from 519 participants were collected using Google Forms online software. Participants completed online versions of Demographic Form, Pathological Narcissism Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory II, Rejection Sensitivity Scale, and Self-compassion Scale. Both the measurement and the structural model provided a good to acceptable fit to the data. Results regarding to correlation analyses provided support for the significant level of associations between study variables. Results regarding to path analyses showed that 22 % of the variance in the self-compassion and 28 % of the variance in the rejection sensitivity was explained by vulnerable narcissism. Lisrel verified the indirect effect of vulnerable narcissism on depressive inclinations through partially mediator role of of self-compassion. On the other hands, depressive inclination was not found to be contingent on rejection sensitivity. Model explained % 45 of the total variance in depressive inclinations. The results have been discussed in consideration of literature. Implications for future research and for clinical practices have also been provided.