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The Role of Narcissistic Vulnerability in Predicting Adult Posttraumatic Symptoms from Childhood Sexual Abuse

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Abstract

The aim of the present study is to determine whether narcissistic vulnerability can aid in clarifying the debate regarding the relationship between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and adulthood adjustment to traumatic events. 157 survivors (mean age = 31.1, SD = 10.9) of a traumatic event (war activities and road and work accidents) were assessed 1 week, 1, and 4 months following the event. Of the 157 participants, 15 reported experiencing CSA, and 26 reported experiencing childhood physical abuse (CPA). In the first-week assessment, patients were administered the Narcissistic Vulnerability Scale (NVS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). In the follow-up assessments, subjects were interviewed on the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale. Narcissistic vulnerability was found, both in 1- and 4-month follow-ups, to increase the likelihood of participants who experienced CSA to develop PTSD symptoms later in their adult life, when exposed to other additional trauma. Narcissistic vulnerability, in both follow-ups, did not increase the likelihood of participants who experienced CPA to develop PTSD symptoms later in their life when exposed to other additional trauma. The NVS predicted the development of PTSD symptoms in the whole sample, both in the 1- and 4-month follow-ups, above and beyond the prediction of the BDI. In other words, narcissistic vulnerability can add additional information above and beyond general negative emotionality. In conclusion, it is recommended to take into consideration the interplay between CSA and the individual’s narcissistic vulnerability when assessing the long term effects of CSA such as acute or chronic PTSD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah University Medical Center, POB 12000, Jerusalem, Israel

    Eytan Bachar, Laura Canetti, Hilit Hadar, Julia Baruch & Sara Freedman

  2. Department of Psychology, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel

    Eytan Bachar, Laura Canetti & Yehuda Dor

  3. School of Social Work, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel

    Sara Freedman

Authors
  1. Eytan Bachar
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  2. Laura Canetti
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  3. Hilit Hadar
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  4. Julia Baruch
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  5. Yehuda Dor
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  6. Sara Freedman
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Correspondence to Eytan Bachar.

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Bachar, E., Canetti, L., Hadar, H. et al. The Role of Narcissistic Vulnerability in Predicting Adult Posttraumatic Symptoms from Childhood Sexual Abuse. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 46, 800–809 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-014-0521-z

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