The role of fear of failure in the relationship between the Dark Triad personality traits and academic burnout

Academic burnout is a growing concern among Dutch university students, with research suggesting that 59% of them experience such symptoms. This study investigated the relationship between the Dark Triad traits - psychopathy, grandiose narcissism, vulnerable narcissism, and Machiavellianism - and academic burnout, examining fear of failure as a potential mediator and gender as a moderator. It was hypothesized that all traits, except grandiose narcissism, would be positively associated with academic burnout. Moreover, it was expected that fear of failure will be a potential mediator in the effect of vulnerable narcissism on academic burnout. Further, it was hypothesized that gender would be a potential moderator for all relationships. Explorative analyses were performed to reveal any differences between primary and secondary psychopathy. A sample of 301 Dutch university students (Mage = 22.8 years, range = 18-27, SD = 2.3; 34.6% men, 65.4% women) completed online questionnaires. Moderated mediation analyses were conducted for each trait. As expected, both psychopathy and Machiavellianism were positively associated with academic burnout, with an unexpected significant moderated mediation for psychopathy (index of 0.26, 95% CI [0.03, 0.53]): the direct effect on and indirect effect through fear of failure was stronger for men. Grandiose narcissism (as expected) and vulnerable narcissism (contrary to expectations) had no significant direct, mediated or moderated effects on academic burnout, despite their positive association with fear of failure. The results call for a more individualised and inclusive approach to students' mental health, with attention to gender diversity, individual differences in personality traits, and, importantly, emotional mechanisms such as fear of failure that shape students' academic experiences.