Thesis
Perceived narcissism in romantic relationships: The association with eating disorder severity
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
12/2020
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000004216
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/125032
Abstract
This study investigated whether narcissistic personality traits perceived in one's romantic partner play a role in the severity of one's eating disorder symptoms. Narcissism in romantic relationships is associated with a tendency for the individual with high levels of narcissism to feel that their partner is falling short of their extrinsic ideals and to push their partners to make extrinsic changes. Concurrently, for some individuals with eating disorders, romantic partners serve as a social feedback that may further influence their own self-evaluation. This study used a specialized sample of 95 adults (85 female, 3 male, 2 transgender, 4 gender non-conforming, 1 other) ages 18 to 64 (M = 28.89, SD = 9.08) who were receiving treatment for an eating disorder. Contrary to hypotheses, perceived partner narcissism was not significantly related to eating disorder symptom severity. Lower reported self-esteem was related to higher endorsement of eating disorder symptomology as well as lower relationship satisfaction and increased social comparison tendencies. Furthermore, less engagement in social comparison was related to higher relationship satisfaction. The longer the relationship, the less likely participants were to perceive their partner as being high in narcissism and the more likely they were to be satisfied with their relationship. These findings may have implications for understanding how interpersonal, particularly romantic, relationships are perceived for individuals with eating disorders.
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Details
- Title
- Perceived narcissism in romantic relationships
- Creators
- Hannah F. Levy
- Contributors
- Christopher Thomas Barry (Advisor) - Washington State University, Psychology, Department of
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Psychology, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Identifiers
- 99900896436401842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis