Longitudinal associations between narcissism, mental toughness and school achievement. (1st September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Papageorgiou, Kostas A.; Malanchini, Margherita; Denovan, Andrew; Clough, Peter J.; Shakeshaft, Nicholas; Schofield, Kerry; Kovas, Yulia
• Is Part Of: Personality and individual differences. Volume 131(2018)
• Page Start: 105
• Page End: 110
• Publication Date: 2018-09-01
• Subjects: Longitudinal design -- Mental Toughness -- Subclinical narcissism -- School achievement; Personality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Personality Development -- Periodicals; Personnalité -- Périodiques; Individualité -- Périodiques; 155.205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2018.04.024
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0191-8869

Abstract

Abstract: Mental toughness has been associated with optimal performance across diverse contexts including academic achievement. MT is positively associated with subclinical narcissism. Cross-sectional research reported that high narcissism may contribute indirectly to enhanced positive outcomes, through MT. This study is the first to explore longitudinally the development of the association between MT, narcissism and achievement in a sample of adolescents. MT correlated positively with narcissism and predicted a small percentage of the variation in school achievement. Narcissism did not correlate significantly with school achievement. However, subclinical narcissism exerted a significant positive indirect effect on school achievement through MT. The findings suggest that the relationship between narcissism and MT could be one of the non-cognitive mechanisms that underlie individual variation in school achievement. Highlights: Mental toughness correlated positively with subclinical narcissism in adolescence. Mental toughness predicted a small percentage of the variation in school achievement. Narcissism exerted a significant positive indirect effect on school achievement through MT. MT, narcissism and achievement were all highly stable over time. Inclusion of narcissism in the dark triad of personality traits may need to be reconsidered.