Age and gender differences in narcissism

A comprehensive study across eight measures and over 250,000 participants

Bibliographic Data

ID6204934
AuthorsRebekka Weidmann (0000-0003-3572-559X, University of Basel, corresponding author), W J Chopik (0000-0003-1748-8738, University of Basel), Robert A Ackerman (0000-0002-7409-114X, The University of Texas at Dallas), Marc Allroggen (University of Basel), Emily C Bianchi (0000-0001-6933-0575, University of Basel), Courtney Brecheen (The University of Texas at Dallas), W Keith Campbell (0000-0002-4906-6663, University of Georgia), Tanja M Gerlach (0009-0006-3169-4326, Queen's University Belfast), Katharina Geukes (0000-0002-7424-306X, University of Basel), Emily Grijalva (0009-0009-0837-6305, University of Basel), Igor Grossmann (0000-0003-2681-3600, University of Waterloo), Christopher J Hopwood (0000-0001-6645-8645, University of Basel), Roos Hutteman (University of Basel), Sara Konrath (0000-0001-9182-0095, University of Indianapolis), Albrecht C P Küfner (University of Basel), Marius Leckelt (0000-0001-6062-2993, University of Basel), Joshua D Miller (0000-0002-2171-856X, University of Georgia), Lars Penke (0000-0002-9484-580X, University of Basel), Aaron L Pincus (0000-0002-6308-0250, Pennsylvania State University), Karl-Heinz Renner (0000-0001-8502-2126, University of Basel), David Richter (0000-0003-2811-8652, University of Basel), Brent W Roberts (0000-0002-3244-1164, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), C G Sibley (0000-0002-4064-8800, University of Auckland), Leonard J Simms (0000-0001-8081-380X, University of Basel), Eunike Wetzel (0000-0002-4224-0366, University of Basel), Aidan G C Wright (0000-0002-2369-0601, University of Pittsburgh), Mitja D Back (0000-0003-2186-1558, University of Basel)
Year2023
Volume124
Issue6
Pages1277-1298
Publication date2023-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Personality and Social Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-3514 • E-ISSN: 1939-1315
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (APA) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1037/pspp0000463
PMID37184962
OpenAlexW4376626965
LanguageEN
Citations received33
References cited69

Version IV, Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire-Short Form, Single-Item Narcissism Scale, and brief version of the Pathological Narcissism Inventory). The findings of Study 1 (N = 5,736) revealed heterogeneity in how strongly the measures are correlated. Some instruments loaded clearly on one of the three factors proposed by previous research (i.e., Neuroticism, Extraversion, Antagonism), while others cross-loaded across factors and in distinct ways. Cross-sectional analyses using each measure and meta-analytic results across all measures (Study 2) with a total sample of 270,029 participants suggest consistent linear age effects (random effects meta-analytic effect of r = -.104), with narcissism being highest in young adulthood. Consistent gender differences also emerged (random effects meta-analytic effect was -.079), such that men scored higher in narcissism than women. Quadratic age effects and Age × Gender effects were generally very small and inconsistent. We conclude that despite the various conceptualizations of narcissism, age and gender differences are generalizable across the eight measures used in the present study. However, their size varied based on the instrument used. We discuss the sources of this heterogeneity and the potential mechanisms for age and gender differences. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Developmental psychology · Narcissism · Social desirability · Emotional Intelligence and Performance · Personality Disorders and Psychopathology · Personality Traits and Psychology · Psychology · Social Psychology

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