How Does Narcissism Play a Role in the Relationship Between Meaning in Life, Coping with Stress, and Quality of Life?: An Examination from the Perspective of the Transactional Stress and Coping Model

Öz

The primary aim of this study is to examine how the grandiose and vulnerable dimensions of narcissism manifest in the relationships among meaning in life, coping with stress, and quality of life, within the framework of the Transactional Stress and Coping Model (TSCM). The sample consisted of 607 adults (265 men, 342 women) aged 18–77 from the general population. Participants completed the Coping Styles Scale (CSS), SF-36 Quality of Life Scale, Meaning in Life Scale (MLS), and Pathological Narcissism Inventory (PNI-52). Correlation and regression analyses revealed that results differed significantly depending on whether narcissism was included in the models. Additionally, participants with differing narcissistic traits showed significant differences in scale scores. Overall, the grandiose dimension of narcissism was found to be more functional in terms of health outcomes than the vulnerable dimension. Emotion-focused coping was negatively associated with quality of life in all conditions, regardless of narcissism type. The findings reaffirm that TSCM can explain health outcomes, with narcissism playing a mediating role in these relationships. It was recommended that the hypotheses be tested in different samples. The findings were discussed in light of the relevant literature to inform future research.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Narcissism
• Coping with Stress
• Transactional Model of Stress and Coping
• Meaning in Life
• Quality of Life

Yaşamda Anlam Bulma, Stresle Başa Çıkma ve Yaşam Kalitesi Arasındaki İlişkide Narsisizm Nasıl Bir Rol Üstlenir?: Transaksiyonel Stres ve Başa Çıkma Modeli Açısından Bir İnceleme

Öz

Bu çalışmanın temel amacı, Transaksiyonel Stres ve Başa Çıkma Modeli (TSBÇM) zemininde yaşamda anlam, stresle başa çıkma ve yaşam kalitesi ilişkilerinde narsisizmin büyüklenmeci ve kırılgan boyutlarının görüngülerini incelemektir. Bu amaçla normal popülasyondan seçilen, farklı psikososyodemografik özelliklerde 18-77 yaş arası 607 yetişkin (265 erkek, 342 kadın) katılımcı, araştırmanın örneklemini oluşturmaktadır. Katılımcılara, Stresle Başa Çıkma Tarzları Ölçeği (SBTÖ), SF-36 Yaşam Kalitesi Ölçeği (SF-36), Yaşamın Anlamı Ölçeği (YAÖ) ve Patolojik Narsisizm Envanteri (PNE-52) uygulanmıştır. Araştırmanın bulgularında değişkenler arası ilişkilerde narsisizm analize dahil edilmeden yapılmış olan korelasyon ve regresyon analizi sonuçlarının, narsisizm analize dahil edildiğindeki sonuçlardan istatistiksel olarak anlamlı düzeyde farklılaştığı saptanmıştır. Buna ek olarak farklı narsisizm özellikleri gösteren katılımcıların araştırmada yer alan ölçeklerin puanları açısından istatistiksel olarak anlamlı ölçüde farklılaştığı bulgulanmıştır. Bulgular genel olarak değerlendirildiğinde narsisizmin büyüklenmeci boyutunun, kırılgan boyuta kıyasla sağlık sonuçları açısından daha işlevsel olduğu görülmüştür. Buna ek olarak duygu odaklı başa çıkmanın, narsisizm türü fark etmeksizin her koşulda yaşam kalitesiyle negatif yönde ilişkide olduğu saptanmıştır. Araştırma sonuçları neticesinde TSBÇM'nin sağlık sonuçlarını açıklamada kullanılabilecek bir model olduğu tekrar doğrulanmış ve narsisizmin bu ilişkiyi açıklamada etkili bir değişken olduğu görülmüştür. Ancak, çalışmada yer alan öngörülerin farklı örneklemlerle de tekrar test edilmesinin gerektiği düşünülmüştür. Ayrıca, çalışmanın bulguları gelecekteki çalışmalara ışık tutması açısından ilgili literatür doğrultusunda tartışılmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Narsisizm
• Stresle Başa Çıkma
• Transaksiyonel Stres ve Başa Çıkma Modeli
• Yaşamın Anlamı
• Yaşam Kalitesi

Kaynakça

1. Abeyta, A. A., Routledge, C. ve Sedikides, C. (2016). Material meaning: Narcissists gain existential benefits from extrinsic goals. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 8(2), 219-228. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550616667618
2. Akhtar, S. ve Thompson, A. J. (1982). Narcissitic personality disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, 139(1), 12-20. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.139.1.12
3. Aldwin, C. M. ve Yancura, L. A. (2004). Coping and health: A comparison of the stress and trauma literatures. In P. Schnurr ve B. L. Green (Edl.), Trauma and health: Physical health consequences of exposure to extreme stress (ss. 99-125). American Psychological Association.
4. Allen, A. R. (2022). Meaninglessness, depression and suicidality: A review of the evidence. İçinde R.G. Menzies ve G.A. Dingle (Edl.) Existential Concerns and Cognitive-Behavioral Procedures (ss. 261-281). Springer.
5. Amestoy, M. E., D’Amico, D. ve Fiocco, A. J. (2023). Neuroticism and stress in older adults: The buffering role of self-esteem. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(12), 6102. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20126102
6. Boyes, M. E. ve French, D. J. (2010). Neuroticism, stress, and coping in the context of an anagram-solving task. Personality and Individual Differences, 49(5), 380-385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2010.04.001
7. Büyükgüngör, A. (2016). Patolojik narsisizm ölçeğinin Türkçe’ye uyarlanması [Yayınlanmamış yüksek lisans tezi]. Bahçeşehir Üniversitesi.
8. Carver, C. S., and Connor-Smith, J. (2010). Personality and coping. Annual Review of Psychology, 61, 679 –704. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.093008.100352

9. Carver, C. S., Scheier, M. F. ve Weintraub, J. K. (1989). Assessing coping strategies: A theoretically based approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 56(2), 267-283. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.56.2.267
10. Çakıcı, D. (2024). Yaşamda anlam bulma, stresle başa çıkma ve yaşam kalitesi arasındaki ilişkilerde narsisizmin rolü: Toplum örnekleminde transaksiyonel stres ve başa çıkma modeli kapsamında bir inceleme [Yayınlanmamış yüksek lisans tezi]. İstanbul Üniversitesi.
11. Debats, D. L., Drost, J. ve Hansen, P. (1995). Experiences of meaning in life: A combined qualitative and quantitative approach. British Journal of Psychology, 86(3), 359-375. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8295.1995.tb02758.x
12. Damásio, B. F., Melo, R. L. P. D. ve Silva, J. P. D. (2013). Meaning in life, psychological well-being and quality of life in teachers. Paidéia (Ribeirão Preto), 23(54), 73-82. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-43272354201309
13. Davis, C. G. ve Nolen-Hoeksem, L. S. (2001). Loss and meaning. How do people make sense of loss? American Behavioral Scientist, 44(5), 726-741. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764201044005003
14. Debats, D. L., Drost, J. ve Hansen, P. (1995). Experiences of meaning in life: A combined qualitative and quantitative approach. British Journal of Psychology, 86(3), 359-375. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8295.1995.tb02758.x
15. DeLongis, A. ve O’Brien, T. B. (1990). An interpersonal framework for stress and coping: An application to the families of Alzheimer’s patients. İçinde M. A. P. Stephens, J. H. Crowther, S. E. Hobfoll ve D. L. Tennenbaum (Edl.), Stress and Coping in Later Life Families (ss. 221–239). Hemisphere Publishers.
16. Demirdağ, S. ve Kalafat, S. (2015). Yaşamın Anlamı Ölçeği (YAÖ): Türkçeye uyarlama, geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması. İnönü Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 16(2), 83-95. https://doi.org/10.17679/iuefd.16250801
17. Ehusani, R. (2024). The epidemic of meaninglessness and the rising cases of suicide in Nigeria. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 8(12), 24–37. https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2024.8120003
18. Eisenbeck, N., Carreno, D. F. ve Pérez-Escobar, J. A. (2021). Meaning-centered coping in the era of COVID-19: Direct and moderating effects on depression, anxiety, and stress. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.648383
19. Folkman, S., Schaefer, C. ve Lazarus, R. S. (1979). Cognitive processes of stress and coping. İçinde V. Hamilton ve D. M. Warburton (Edl.), Human stress and cognition: An Information Processing Approach (ss. 265–298). John Wiley & Sons.
20. Folkman, S. ve Lazarus, R. S. (1980). An analysis of coping in a middle-aged community sample. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 21(3), 219-239. https://doi.org/10.2307/2136617
21. Folkman, S. (1997). Positive psychological states and coping with severe stress. Social Science and Medicine, 45(8), 1207-1221. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(97)00040-3
22. Folkman, S. ve Greer, S. (2000). Promoting psychological well-being in the face of serious illness: When theory, research and practice inform each other. Psycho-Oncology, 9(1), 11-19. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1611(200001/02)9:1<11::AID-PON424>3.0.CO;2-Z
23. Folkman, S. ve Moskowitz, J. (2000). Positive affect and the other side of coping. American Psychologist, 55(6), 647–654. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.6.647
24. Foster, J. D. ve Trimm, R. F. (2008). On being eager and uninhibited: Narcissism and approach–avoidance motivation. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 34(7), 1004-1017. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167208316688
25. Francis, L. J. ve Crea, G. (2021). Psychological predictors of professional burnout among priests, religious brothers, and religious sisters in Italy: the Dark Triad versus the bright trinity? Pastoral Psychology, 70(4), 399-418. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089021-00951-8
26. Frankl, V. E. (1966). Logotherapy and existential analysis - A review. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 20(2), 252–260. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.1966.20.2.252
27. Frankl, V. E. (2006). Anlamsızlık hissi: Varoluşsal psikoterapi ve insanlık (A. Y. Özdemir, Çev.). Varlık Yayınları. (1997)
28. Freud, S. (2000). Narsizm üzerine ve Schreber vakası (S. M. Tuna ve D. B. Büyükkal, Çev.). Metis Yayınları. (1914)
29. Gunthert, K. C., Cohen, L. H. ve Armeli, S. (1999). The role of neuroticism in daily stress and coping. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77(5), 1087-1100. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.77.5.1087
30. Heintzelman, S. J. ve King, L. A. (2014). (The feeling of) meaning-as-information. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 18(2), 153–167. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868313518487
31. Herman, J. L. ve Tetrick, L. E. (2009). Problem‐focused versus emotion‐focused coping strategies and repatriation adjustment. Human Resource Management, 48(1), 69-88. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.20267
32. Hicks, J. A., Schlegel, R. J. ve King, L. A. (2010). Social threats, happiness, and the dynamics of meaning in life judgments. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 36(10), 1305–1317. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167210381650
33. Kalashnikova, O., Leontiev, D., Rasskazova, E. ve Taranenko, O. (2022). Meaning of life as a resource for coping with psychological crisis: Comparisons of suicidal and non-suicidal patients. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.957782
34. Kardaş, S. (2017). Sanal kimlik ve spiritüel iyi oluşun üniversite öğrencilerinin narsistik eğilimlerini yordayıcılığı. [Yayınlanmamış Doktora Tezi]. Marmara Üniversitesi.
35. Kernberg, O. (1975). Borderline conditions and pathological narcissism (2. basım). Jason Aronson.
36. Kılıç, N. ve Eryılmaz, A. (2019). An investigation of the relationships between positive psychotherapy capacities of individuals and narcissistic personality traits. Archives of Neuropsychiatry, 56(1), 40-46. https://doi.org/10.29399/npa.22794
37. Kim, H. K. (2022). In the COVID-19 era, effects of job stress, coping strategies, meaning in life and resilience on psychological well-being of women workers in the service sector. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(16), 9824. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19169824
38. Kocjan, G. Z., Kavčič, T. ve Avsec, A. (2021). Resilience matters: Explaining the association between personality and psychological functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 21(1), 100198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijchp.2020.08.002
39. Kohut, H. (1998a). Kendiliğin Çözümlenmesi (C. Atbaşoğlu, B. Büyükkal ve C. İşcan, Çev.). Metis Yayınları. (1971)
40. Kohut, H. (1998b). Kendiliğin Yeniden Yapılanması (O. Cebeci, Çev.). Metis Yayınları. (1977)
41. Lazarus, S. R. ve Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisial and coping (2. basım). Springer Publishing Company.
42. Lafarge, L. (1989). Emptiness as defense in severe regressive states. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 37(4), 965–995. https://doi.org/10.1177/000306518903700405
43. Levy, S. (1984). Psychoanalytic perspectives on emptiness. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 32(2), 387–404. https://doi.org/10.1177/000306518403200207
44. Littman-Ovadia, H. ve Steger, M. (2010). Character strengths and well-being among volunteers and employees: Toward an integrative model. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 5(6), 419–430. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2010.516765
45. Miller, J. D., Hoffman, B. J., Gaughan, E. T., Gentile, B., Maples, J. ve Keith Campbell, W. (2011). Grandiose and vulnerable narcissism: A nomological network analysis. Journal of Personality, 79(5), 1013-1042. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2010.00711.x
46. Ng, H. K. S., Tam, K. P. ve Shu, T. M. (2011). The money attitude of covert and overt narcissists. Personality and Individual Differences, 51(2), 160-165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2011.03.036
47. Ng, H. K. S., Cheung, R. Y. H. ve Tam, K. P. (2014). Unraveling the link between narcissism and psychological health: New evidence from coping flexibility. Personality and Individual Differences, 70, 7–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2014.06.006
48. Özbay, Y. ve İlhan, T. (2019). Kronik hastalığı olan çocuklarda yaşam kalitesi ve başa çıkma: Yarı-deneysel bir çalışma. The Journal Of Academic Social Science Studies, 6(8), 945-962. http://dx.doi.org/10.9761/JASSS1900
49. Paas, K. H. W. (2020). Narcissists' use of diverse coping styles in times of stress. [Yayınlanmamış Doktora Tezi]. Southampton Üniversitesi.
50. Park, C. L. ve Folkman, S. (1997). Meaning in the context of stress and coping. Review of General Psychology, 1(2), 115–144. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.1.2.115
51. Park, C. L., Malone, M. R., Suresh, D. P., Bliss, D. ve Rosen, R. I. (2008). Coping, meaning in life, and quality of life in congestive heart failure patients. Quality of Life Research, 17(1), 21-26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-007-9279-0
52. Park, C. L. (2010). Making sense of the meaning literature: An integrative review of meaning making and its effects on adjustment to stressful life events. Psychological Bulletin, 136(2), 257–301. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018301
53. Pincus, A. L., Ansell, E. B., Pimentel, C. A., Cain, N. M., Wright, A. ve Levy, K. N. (2009). Initial construction and validation of the Pathological Narcissism Inventory. Psychological Assessment, 21(3), 365–379. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016530
54. Pınar, R. (2005). Reliability and construct validity of the SF-36 in Turkish cancer patients. Quality of Life Research, 14(1), 259-264. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-004-2393-3
55. Rank, O. (1911). Ein Beitrag zum Narzissismus. Jahrbuch für Psychoanalytische und Psychopathologische Forschungen, 3(1), 401–426.
56. Rogoza, R., Zemojtel-Piotrowska, M., Rogoza, M., Piotrowski, J. ve Wyszynska, P. (2016). Narcissistic admiration and rivalry in the context of personality metatraits. Personality and Individual Differences, 102, 180–185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2016.07.003
57. Rohmann, E., Neumann, E., Herner, M. J. ve Bierhoff, H. W. (2012). Grandiose and vulnerable narcissism. European Psychologist, 17(4). https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000100
58. Roming, S. ve Howard, K. (2019). Coping with stress in college: an examination of spirituality, social support, and quality of life. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 22(8), 832-843. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2019.1674794
59. Rose, P. (2002). The happy and unhappy faces of narcissism. Personality and individual differences, 33(3), 379-391. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(01)00162-3
60. Sękowski, M., Subramanian, Ł. ve Żemojtel-Piotrowska, M. (2021). Are narcissists resilient? Examining grandiose and vulnerable narcissism in the context of a three-dimensional model of resilience. Current Psychology, 42, 2811-2819. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01577-y
61. Shurgot, G. R. ve Knight, B. G. (2005). Influence of neuroticism, ethnicity, familism, and social support on perceived burden in dementia caregivers: pilot test of the transactional stress and social support model. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 60(6), 331-334. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/60.6.P331
62. Singer, M. (1977). The experience of emptiness in narcissistic and borderline states: II. The struggle for a sense of self and the potential for suicide. International Review of Psycho-Analysis, 4(4), 471–479. https://pep-web.org/search/document/IRP.004.0471A
63. Skowroński, B. ve Talik, E. (2018). Coping with stress and the sense of quality of life in inmates of correctional facilities. Psychiatria Polska, 52(3), 525-542. https://doi.org/10.12740/PP/77901
64. Steger, M. F. (2009). Meaning in life. İçinde S. J. Lopez (Ed.), Oxford handbook of positive psychology (ss. 679–689) (2. Basım). Oxford University Press.
65. Steger, M. F., Frazier, P., Oishi, S. ve Kaler, M. (2006). The meaning in life questionnaire: assessing the presence of and search for meaning in life. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53(1), 80-93. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.53.1.80
66. Stephenson, E. ve DeLongis, A. (2020). Coping strategies. İçinde K. Sweeny, M. L. Robbins ve S. J. Newman (Edl.), The Wiley encyclopedia of health psychology (ss. 55–60). Wiley.
67. Stewart, A. L., Hays, R. D. ve Ware, J. E. Jr. (1988). The MOS short-form general health survey: Reliability and validity in a patient population. Medical Care, 26(7), 724–735. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005650-198807000-00007
68. Svrakic, D. (1985). Emotional features of narcissistic personality disorder. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 142(6), 720–724. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.142.6.720
69. Şahin, N. H. ve Durak, A. (1995). Stresle başa çıkma tarzları ölçeği: Üniversite öğrencileri için uyarlanması. Türk Psikoloji Dergisi, 10(34), 56-73.
70. Torlak, S. E. ve Yavuzçehre, P. S. (2008). Denizli kent yoksullarının yaşam kalitesi üzerine bir inceleme. Çağdaş Yerel Yönetimler, 17(2), 23-44. https://hdl.handle.net/11499/41348
71. Türküm, A. S. (1999). İyimserlik ve stresle başa çıkma (1. Basım). Anadolu Üniversitesi Yayınları.
72. Ward, S., Womick, J., Titova, L. ve King, L. (2023). Meaning in life and coping with everyday stressors. Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin, 49(3), 460–476. https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672211068910
73. Weiss, B. ve Miller, J. D. (2018). Distinguishing between grandiose narcissism, vulnerable narcissism, and narcissistic personality disorder. İçinde A. D. Hermann, A. B. Brunell ve J. D. Foster (Edl.), Handbook of trait narcissism: Key advances, research methods, and controversies (ss. 3–13). Springer.
74. Wilchek-Aviad, Y. (2015). Meaning in life and suicidal tendency among immigrant (Ethiopian) youth and native-born Israeli youth. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 17(4), 1041–1048. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-014-0028-5
75. Wink, P. (1991). Two faces of narcissim. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61(4), 590-597. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.61.4.590
76. Wirtz, N. ve Rigotti, T. (2020). When grandiose meets vulnerable: narcissism and well-being in the organizational context. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 29(4), 556-569. https://doi.org/10.1080/1359432X.2020.1731474
77. Womick, J., Atherton, B. ve King, L. A. (2020). Lives of significance (and purpose and coherence): subclinical narcissism, meaning in life, and subjective well-being. Heliyon, 6(5), e03982. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03982
78. World Health Organization. (1993). Measuring quality of life: the development of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument (WHOQOL). Geneva: WHO.
79. Velji, J. ve Schermer, J. A. (2024). Do narcissists possess a sense of purpose? Purpose-in-life and narcissism. Current Research in Behavioral Sciences, 6, 100146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crbeha.2024.100146
80. Vladetić, M., Jančuljak, D., Butković Soldo, S., Kralik, K. ve Buljan, K. (2017). Health-related quality of life and ways of coping with stress in patients with migraine. Neurological Sciences, 38(2), 295-301. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-016-2759-7
81. Vollrath, M., Torgersen, S. ve Alnæs, R. (1998). Neuroticism, coping and change in MCMI‐II clinical syndromes: test of a mediator model. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 39(1), 15-24. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9450.00051
82. Zhu, C., Su, R., Zhang, X. ve Liu, Y. (2021). Relation between narcissism and meaning in life: The role of conspicuous consumption. Heliyon, 7(9), e07885. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07885