The contribution of narcissistic traits to dispositional rejection sensitivity and momentary perceptions of rejection

Heightened rejection sensitivity characterizes personality pathology. Several studies explore its role in clinical and subclinical forms of borderline personality disorder (BPD), but less is known about its link with narcissism. This contribution investigates how narcissistic traits relate to both trait rejection sensitivity and experiences of rejection in daily life. Recent operationalizations of narcissism consisting of two factors (i.e., grandiose and vulnerable narcissism) or three trait domains (i.e., narcissistic antagonism, extraversion, neuroticism) are both adopted in this study. Community adults completed dispositional measures of rejection sensitivity and personality traits. Then, they initiated a one-week Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) and completed measures of perceived social rejection and affective states following any interpersonal interaction. The final sample (N = 189, 149 women) evaluated 2,971 interpersonal interactions (Mean per participant = 15.72 interactions; SD = 7.49, range = 5-42). Regressions and multilevel models were used to investigate the link between narcissistic traits and dispositional or state indicators of rejection. Borderline traits were used as covariates in most models to highlight narcissism-specific associations. As for dispositional rejection sensitivity, multiple regressions indicated that anticipated anger and anxiety for rejection were uniquely predicted by narcissistic neuroticism, as well as by vulnerable narcissism; the latter emotion was also negatively associated with grandiose narcissism. Dispositional expectations of rejection were unrelated to narcissism. As to state rejection, multilevel models indicated that daily-life perceptions of rejection were only uniquely predicted by borderline traits, with no unique effect of two- or three-factor narcissism scores. Finally, narcissistic traits only marginally amplified some specific affective reactions to perceived state rejection. Different representations of rejection may inhabit individuals with diverse prevailing personality traits: lower thresholds in perceiving rejection characterize BPD, but concern for rejection may be specifically fueled by narcissistic neuroticism and vulnerability. Insights into narcissism-driven self- and other- representations will be discussed.