Relationship between the Dark Triad and depressive symptoms

Abstract

The Dark Triad (DT) is composed of three closely related personality traits: psychopathy, Machiavellianism and narcissism. These traits have been linked to emotional deficits. The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship between the DT traits, including sub-dimensions, and depressive symptoms in order to identify those factors most strongly associated with the development of depression in individuals scoring high on DT. For these purposes, a total of 791 adults (M = 35.76 years; 24.91% males) completed a questionnaire battery including DT traits and depression measures. A positive significant correlation was found between psychopathy and Machiavellianism traits (total score and all sub-dimensions) and depressive symptoms. For narcissism, the direction of the correlation was dependent on the sub-dimension assessed. A model explaining 26.2% of the depressive symptoms scores was composed of the callous affect and criminal tendencies sub-dimensions of psychopathy, cynical view of human nature, which is a sub-dimension of Machiavellianism, and entitlement and self-sufficiency, which are sub-dimensions of narcissism. In addition, some of the relationships found between DT sub-dimensions and depressive symptoms appeared to depend on gender. Our results could have implications for detection and intervention programs aimed at decreasing the negative emotional consequences suffered by individuals with high DT scores. Limitations and future lines of research are discussed.

What’s up with anti-natalists? An observational study on the relationship between dark triad personality traits and anti-natalist views

“…Recall also that narcissism already showed the weakest association, and taken together with the follow-up, one might want to explicitly exclude it from any full picture going forward. Further, given that depression played an important mediating the main relationships, the fact that the follow-up did not find an effect for narcissism is further compatible with previous research that found that comorbidities of depression and dark triad traits are typically only found with regard to Machiavellianism and psychopathy, not narcissism (Gómez-Leal et al, 2019) and again suggests that the picture is one of the dark dyad being associated with anti-natalist views. As such, the data gathered in the followup make the overall picture more consistent with previous findings and may thus increase the plausibility of the findings.…”

“…25. Importantly, this is in line with previous findings on the comorbidity of depression and dark triad personality traits which found a strong and unambiguous relationship of depression only with Machiavellianism and psychopathy, not narcissism, (Gómez-Leal et al, 2019). 26.…”

“…Anti-natalist views, due to their life-disaffirming nature might also be thought to stand in relation to depressive mood. As has recently been shown, there exists a comorbidity between dark triad personality traits and depression more generally (Gómez-Leal et al, 2019;cf. also Tokarev et al, 2017;Jonason, Baughman et al, 2015).…”

The Dark Triad of Personality’s Relationship with Compliance towards COVID-19 Pandemic Recommendations along with Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Polish Citizens

“…It is important to remember that one's personality can also impact this vulnerability [31]. A high level of Machiavellianism correlates positively with depressive and anxiety symptoms [24,[32][33][34][35]. Although psychopathy is associated with low anxiety [36], a study by Derefinko [37] claims that the relationship between anxiety and psychopathy is more complex and that linking psychopathy to a lack of anxiety is not correct [38].…”

“…Although psychopathy is associated with low anxiety [36], a study by Derefinko [37] claims that the relationship between anxiety and psychopathy is more complex and that linking psychopathy to a lack of anxiety is not correct [38]. Many studies have shown that psychopathy correlates positively with anxiety and depression [24,32,35]. Narcissism is linked to certain positive attributes which can prevent individuals from excessive stress, depression, or anxiety [39,40] and therefore contribute to maintaining good mental health.…”