Do “Dark” Personality Features Buffer Against Adversity? The Associations Between Cumulative Life Stress, the Dark Triad, and Mental Distress

Minna Lyons,Samuli Helle,Kate Evans

doi:10.1177/2158244018822383

Abstract

Stressful life events have a major impact on adverse mental health outcomes, although not all individuals are equally affected. According to the buffering hypothesis, there may be personality traits that protect individuals against mental distress in the face of adversity, playing thus a moderating role between life stressors and mental distress. In the present online study ( N = 574), Dark Triad of personality (i.e., Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) were investigated as moderators between cumulative stressful life events and mental distress (i.e., psychosis, anxiety, and depression). Those who experienced more stressful events during lifetime, and scored higher in Machiavellianism, had higher scores on a psychosis instrument. Narcissism buffered the impact of stressful events on psychosis and depression. The results are discussed in terms of unique profiles associated with each of the traits.

Highlights

Stressful life events have a substantial effect on several mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and psychosis (Bebbington et al, 1993; Kendler, Hettema, Butera, Gardner, & Prescott, 2003; Kopala-Sibley et al, 2016)
We found that the influence of cumulative stress events on psychosis and depression, but not on anxiety, was moderated by Dark Triad traits (Table 2)
Our findings suggest that especially Machiavellianism may predispose individuals to mental distress after cumulative stress events during life, in terms of higher psychotic symptoms

Summary

Introduction

Stressful life events have a substantial effect on several mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and psychosis (Bebbington et al, 1993; Kendler, Hettema, Butera, Gardner, & Prescott, 2003; Kopala-Sibley et al, 2016). These events can take the form of a one-off traumatic experience (e.g., Kopala-Sibley et al, 2016) or exert their influence in a cumulative manner over a longer time period (Seery, Holman, & Silver, 2010). Despite the wide interest in possible buffers against adversity, there has been less focus on investigating socially negative personality traits, such as those represented by the Dark Triad (i.e., narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy; Paulhus & Williams, 2002) from a buffering perspective

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Results

Conclusion