The Anti-Mattering Scale Versus the General Mattering Scale in Pathological Narcissism: How an Excessive Need to Matter Informs the Narcissism and Mattering Constructs

Abstract

The current study uniquely examines mattering and narcissism and reflects our contention that pathological narcissism involves an excessive need to matter and a hypersensitivity to being devalued and not mattering to other people. Specifically, we evaluated the proposed association between pathological narcissism and deficits in mattering by comparing the results obtained with the Anti-Mattering Scale and the General Mattering Scale. We also evaluated anti-mattering as a potential mediator of the link between narcissism and distress. A sample of 168 university students completed the Anti-Mattering Scale, the General Mattering Scale, the Pathological Narcissism Inventory, and a depression measure. Results confirmed that elevated scores on the Anti-Mattering Scale are associated with grandiose and vulnerable narcissism as well as depression. Mattering assessed by the General Mattering Scale had a weaker association with narcissism, thus highlighting the distinction between the Anti-Mattering Scale and the General Mattering Scale. Further analyses suggested that elevated Anti-Mattering Scale scores did indeed mediate the link between vulnerable narcissism and depression in keeping with anti-mattering as a factor that elicits the vulnerability of narcissists. Our findings attest to the uniqueness of the Anti-Mattering Scale and illustrate the need to consider the role of feelings of not mattering as a contributor to the self and identity issues and interpersonal sensitivity that contribute to pathological narcissism. This work also suggests the need to emphasize an excessive need to matter when assessing the self and when developing future measures of the need to matter.

The General Mattering Scale, the Anti-Mattering Scale, and the Fear of Not Mattering Inventory: Psychometric Properties and Links with Distress and Hope Among Chinese University Students

“…In our study, we found a weaker correlation between general mattering and anti-mattering (ie, r =−0.34) compared to previous studies conducted in Western countries where strong effects were often observed. 11 , 12 , 19 , 21 , 33 , 45 , 66 We hypothesize that traditional Chinese culture may have influenced our results, as humility and the golden mean are highly valued in this culture. 73 Some GMS items that relate to thinking that one is important to others or that others will miss them may be perceived as arrogant under the context of Chinese culture, leading Chinese university students to a reluctance to endorse certain responses.…”

“…Participants indicate their degree of agreement with items such as “To what extent have you been made to feel like you are invisible?” and “How much do you feel like you will never matter to certain people?” The AMS has now been used in multiple investigations. 11 , 12 , 33 , 46 , 47 …”

“…These include the Anti-Mattering Scale (AMS) 21 and the Fear of Not Mattering Inventory (FNMI), which captures the anxiety stemming from concerns about not mattering to others. 10 It is important to note that it has been argued by Flett, Nepon and Scott 12 that when it comes to a positively oriented measure (ie, the General Mattering Scale) versus those that are negatively oriented and tap feelings of not mattering (eg, feeling invisible) and fears of not mattering, mattering and anti-mattering are not simply the endpoints of the same continuum. The positive and negative orientations differ in key respects, including assumed cognitive and motivational tendencies as would be the case when considering the differences between optimism versus pessimism.…”

“…Most notably, in several empirical studies, the concepts of general mattering and anti-mattering have their own unique associations with the risk factors of mental illness [eg, perceptions of stigma by others, 33 and pathological narcissism]. 12 Additionally, fear of not mattering, as a newly developed construct, also demonstrated a unique variance contribution on university students' psychological distress after controlling general mattering and anti-mattering. 19 Mattering is commonly perceived to have both positive and negative impacts.…”

The Relationship between Orthorexia Nervosa and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

“…Future research should take the limitations into account and extend the research on ON by examining possible psychological factors that may be associated with ON's manifestation, such as mattering [50], need for control [51], and narcissism [52].…”