Is Vulnerability More Important Than Grandiosity? Narcissistic Traits in Child‐To‐Parent Violence

ABSTRACT A growing body of research has highlighted the role of personality‐related vulnerabilities in child‐to‐parent violence (CPV), and recent studies suggest that narcissistic traits may be one relevant factor. Yet existing research has focused almost exclusively on grandiose narcissism, while vulnerable narcissism has rarely been examined. This study investigates associations between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism and three forms of CPV—verbal aggression, coercive behaviour, and physical aggression—in a large community sample of Swedish adolescents. Gender‐stratified logistic regression models were estimated, adjusting for individual and family‐related factors. Vulnerable narcissism showed consistent associations with CPV, especially among girls, where effects remained significant across all CPV forms after adjustment. Grandiose narcissism showed weak or no associations once vulnerability was controlled for. The findings suggest that CPV may be more closely linked to the emotional insecurity and sensitivity to ego threat that characterise vulnerable narcissism, and that both dimensions warrant attention in future research.