Effect of Narcissistic Vulnerability on Dysfunctional Communication with Spouse: The mediating roles of hostile attribution bias and anger rumination

Objectives: This study examined whether narcissistic vulnerability influences dysfunctional communication toward spouses and whether this process is mediated by hostile attribution bias and anger rumination. Methods: Data were collected through online surveys from 296 married individuals aged 20 to 60. A structural equation model was developed to test the parallel and sequential mediating effects of hostile attribution bias and anger rumination and compared against alternative model for analysis. Results: Results showed that narcissistic vulnerability significantly predicted dysfunctional communication through both hostile attribution bias and anger rumination independently. However, the sequential mediating effect of hostile attribution bias and anger rumination was not significant. Narcissistic vulnerability also showed a direct effect on dysfunctional communication. Model comparison revealed that the best-fitting model was an alternative model in which hostile attribution bias and anger rumination partially double-mediated the effect of narcissistic vulnerability on dysfunctional communication. Conclusions: These findings highlight the roles of cognitive processes in the link between narcissistic traits and marital communication styles. Implications for therapeutic intervention, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.