Growing Up with a Narcissistic Mother: Mediating Role of Self-Criticism in the Relationship of Maternal Narcissistic Traits with Depression and Anxiety

Year 2024, Volume: 16 Issue: Supplement 1, 87 - 97

Emre Han Alpay , Arzu Aydın

https://doi.org/10.18863/pgy.1402000

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to examine the mediating role of self-criticism in the relationship between narcissistic traits perceived from the mother in childhood and symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders in adulthood.
Method: A total of 512 adults aged between 18 and 45 years (mean age= 31.47, SD= 10.37) were included in the study. Participants completed the Socio-demographic Information Form, Scale of Narcissitic Traits Perceived from Mother, Forms of Self-Criticism and Self-Relief Scale, and Brief Symptom Inventory.
Results: In the model tested using Structural Equation Modeling, perceived maternal narcissism during childhood predicted self-criticism, depression and anxiety disorder symptoms. In addition, self-criticism predicted both depression and anxiety disorder symptoms. Indirect effects were examined with the bootsrap method and self-criticism was found to have a mediating role.
Conclusion: The results suggest that self-criticism mediates the relationship between narcissistic traits perceived from the mother in childhood and symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders. These findings suggest that a mother's narcissistic traits may have a negative impact on mother-child interaction and influence the child's development of a self-critical style. Moreover, high maternal narcissistic traits may increase the risk of depression and anxiety disorder symptoms by contributing to a self-critical thinking style.

Keywords

maternal narcissism, depression, anxiety, self-criticism

Narsisistik Bir Anne ile Büyümek: Anneden Algılanan Narsisistik Özelliklerin Depresyon ve Kaygı ile İlişkisinde Kendini Eleştirinin Aracı Rolü

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmada, çocuklukta anneden algılanan narsisistik özellikler ile yetişkinlikteki depresyon ve kaygı bozukluğu belirtileri arasındaki ilişkide kendi eleştirinin aracı rolünün incelenmesi amaçlanmaktadır.
Yöntem: Araştırmaya toplum örnekleminden oluşan ve yaşları 18 ile 45 (Yaş ortalaması= 31.47, SS= 10.37) arasında olan toplam 512 yetişkin dahil edilmiştir. Katılımcılar, Sosyo-demografik Bilgi Formı, Anneden Algılanan Narsisistik Özellikler Ölçeği, Kendini Eleştirinin Formları ve Kendini Rahatlatma Ölçeği ve Kısa Semptom Envanterini doldurmuşlardır.
Bulgular: Yapısal Eşitlik Modellemesi kullanılarak test edilen modelde, çocukluk döneminde algılanan anne narsisizminin kendini eleştiriyi, depresyon ve kaygı bozukluğu belirtilerini yordadığı görülmektedir. Ek olarak, kendini eleştiri de hem depresyon hem de kaygı bozukluğu belirtilerini yordamıştır. Dolaylı etkiler bootsrap yöntemi ile incelenmiş ve kendini eleştirinin aracılık rolünün olduğu görülmüştür.
Sonuç: Bulgular çocuklukta anneden algılanan narsisistik özellikler ile depresyon ve kaygı bozukluğu belirtileri arasındaki ilişkide kendini eleştirinin aracı rolü olduğu göstermektedir. Bu bulgular, bir annenin narsisistik özelliklerinin anne-çocuk etkileşimi üzerinde olumsuz bir etkiye sahip olabileceğini ve çocuğun kendisine karşı eleştirel bir tarz gelişimini etkileyebileceğini göstermektedir. Ayrıca, annenin yüksek narsisistik özellikleri, özeleştirel düşünme tarzına katkıda bulunarak depresyon ve kaygı bozukluğu belirtilerinin riskini artırabilir.

Keywords

Anne narsisizmi, depresyon, kaygı, kendini eleştiri

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