Growing Up with a Narcissistic Mother: Mediating Role of Self-Criticism in the Relationship of Maternal Narcissistic Traits with Depression and Anxiety

Objective: This study aims to examine the mediating role of self-criticism in the relationship between narcissistic traits perceived from the mother in childhood and symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders in adulthood. Method: A total of 512 adults aged between 18 and 45 years (mean age= 31.47, SD= 10.37) were included in the study. Participants completed the Socio-demographic Information Form, Scale of Narcissitic Traits Perceived from Mother, Forms of Self-Criticism and Self-Relief Scale, and Brief Symptom Inventory. Results: In the model tested using Structural Equation Modeling, perceived maternal narcissism during childhood predicted self-criticism, depression and anxiety disorder symptoms. In addition, self-criticism predicted both depression and anxiety disorder symptoms. Indirect effects were examined with the bootsrap method and self-criticism was found to have a mediating role. Conclusion: The results suggest that self-criticism mediates the relationship between narcissistic traits perceived from the mother in childhood and symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders. These findings suggest that a mother's narcissistic traits may have a negative impact on mother-child interaction and influence the child's development of a self-critical style. Moreover, high maternal narcissistic traits may increase the risk of depression and anxiety disorder symptoms by contributing to a self-critical thinking style.