The mediating roles of mentalization and self-perception in the relationship between maternal perception and narcissistic traits: a network analysis

Narcissistic personality traits are increasingly conceptualized as products of early attachment experiences, internalized representations of caregivers, and cognitive-affective skills such as mentalization. Despite growing evidence linking these constructs, their structural interrelations have not been examined within an integrated analytical framework. This study aimed to investigate the associations between self-perception, parental mental representations, and narcissism, using both traditional and network-based statistical approaches. A total of 618 Turkish adults (50.3% female) aged 18–65 (M = 38.23, SD = 13.18) participated. Data were collected using the Attachment-Based Mental Representations Scale to assess self-perception and parental mental representations, the Mentalization Scale to measure mentalization, and the Coolidge Axis II Inventory Plus Turkish Short Form to assess narcissistic traits. Statistical analyses included independent samples t-test, Pearson correlations, Gaussian Graphical Models (GGM), and a serial mediation model (PROCESS Model 6), with gender as a covariate. Independent samples t-test revealed significant gender differences in narcissism, mentalization, and self/parental perceptions. Network analysis showed that negative maternal perception and negative self-perception were the most central nodes. In the GGM, narcissism maintained direct links with negative self- and parental perceptions, but not with positive perceptions. A serial mediation analysis supported a significant indirect effect of negative self-perception and mentalization. These findings highlight the central role of negative self-perception in narcissistic traits development and suggest that early maternal representations act as foundational connectors within the individual’s psychological network. Interventions targeting self-concept and mentalization may hold promise for individuals with narcissistic traits. The convergence of network and mediation results emphasizes the value of multidimensional approaches in understanding complex personality processes.