Abstract
Research on pathological narcissistic traits and sexuality are mainly focused on the dysfunctional aspects of sexuality. The present study aims to explore the relationship between narcissistic traits and sexual satisfaction in men, testing whether sexual self-esteem mediates this association. Participants included 212 men who completed measures of grandiose and vulnerable narcissistic traits, sexual self-esteem, and sexual satisfaction. Results highlight how vulnerable narcissistic traits are negatively associated with sexual satisfaction. This association is fully mediated by sexual self-esteem. On the contrary, grandiose narcissistic traits are not directly associated with sexual satisfaction, but with sexual self-esteem only, which explains the indirect effect of grandiose traits on sexual satisfaction. In conclusion, sexual self-esteem in personality configurations with high pathological narcissistic traits accounts for the relationship between narcissistic traits and sexual satisfaction.
Highlights
Sexual satisfaction is a key component of sexual health that contributes to the overall well-being of individuals [1]
Vulnerable narcissistic traits were negatively associated with both sexual satisfaction and sexual selfesteem
Grandiose narcissism showed to be positively correlated with sexual self-esteem, while the association of grandiose narcissism with sexual satisfaction was not significant
Summary
Sexual satisfaction is a key component of sexual health that contributes to the overall well-being of individuals [1]. Sexual satisfaction consists of the personal evaluation of one’s sexual life, which is influenced by past sexual experiences, and present and future expectations [2]. The quality of sexual life, including sexual satisfaction, has been shown to predict the overall quality of both present and future romantic relationships [6]. Narcissism, in particular, has been linked to sexual life since its introduction in the field of psychology [7]. It was inherently described as a form of pathological sexuality, including excessive autoerotism [8] and a type of “libidinal” investment characterized by a relatively exclusive focus on the self [9]
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