Construction and Validation of the Narcissism and Vulnerable Narcissism Scale in a Non-clinical Sample in Iran

Abstract

Background: This study was carried out to construct and validate Narcissism and Vulnerable Narcissism Scale (NVS) in a non-clinical sample in Iran. Methods: Through a review of literature, the affecting factors for narcissism and vulnerable narcissism were identified. Items for them were designed and their face validity and content validity were assessed via consultation with 5 psychoanalysts. 804 students, recruited through stratified sampling, completed the designed scale and Maladaptive Covert Narcissism Scale (MCNS). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied for factor analysis. Cronbach alpha was used to confirm the reliability of factors. The difference between two genders was investigated using t test. The frequency of narcissism and vulnerable narcissism were estimated based on the z-scores. Results: Three factors of “grandiosity”, “devaluation”, and “social detachment” for narcissism part (24 items) and four factors of “negative emotions”, “fear of defect”, “low and fluctuating self-esteem”, and “withdrawal” for vulnerable narcissism part (27 items) of the scale showed reasonable validity and reliability. Pearson correlation coefficient between the two parts of narcissism and vulnerable narcissism and MCNS was estimated 0.42 and 0.47, respectively. Based on the score of 2 standard deviation (SD) above the mean, 2.0% of men, and 2.6% of women had narcissism, among which, 14.2% and 45.4% showed vulnerable narcissism, respectively. Conclusion: This scale showed suitable validity and reliability for screening narcissism and vulnerable narcissism. It needs to be replicated in other clinical and non-clinical samples with various demographic characteristics. Keywords Narcissism; Self report; Surveys; Scale