Parental religiosity as a shield: mitigating the impact of offspring dark triad traits on self-efficacy and academic performance

Drawing on social cognitive theory, we investigated parental religiosity as a tool through which a child’s Dark Triad lowers the negative consequences of academic achievement. While dark triad are traditionally associated with counterproductive behaviors, we theorize that their impact on academic performance is mediated by self-efficacy and moderated by parental religiosity. Based on a survey of 470 students from Pakistan, we find that parental religiosity amplifies the positive effects of narcissism and Machiavellianism on self-efficacy and academic performance. Although psychopathy negatively impacts self-efficacy, parental religiosity reduces this effect. Notably, parental religiosity emerges as a critical factor in shaping the influence of the Dark Triad traits on self-efficacy and academic performance.