Narcissism and Relationship Satisfaction from a Dyadic Perspective: The Mediating Role of Psychological Aggression

The mediating effect of psychological aggression between narcissism and relationship satisfaction was investigated among 128 nonclinical heterosexual couples (N=256) in enduring relationships, using the actor-partner interdependence model. The results indicated two mediation paths affecting men's relationship satisfaction: the higher men's narcissism, the higher their perpetration of psychological aggression, which, in turn, was negatively linked with their own relationship satisfaction and the higher women's narcissism, the higher their perpetration of psychological aggression, which, in turn, was negatively linked with their male partner's relationship satisfaction. The analyses also revealed one mediation path affecting women's relationship satisfaction: the higher their narcissism, the higher the perpetration of psychological aggression, which, in turn, was linked with lower women's relationship satisfaction. Recommendations for further research and clinical implications are discussed.