A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal
Dark Triad traits and depression symptoms in non-clinical populations: A pre-registered systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Borráz-León Javier I.; Rantala, Markus J.; Cerda-Molina, Ana Lilia; Maestripieri, Dario
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Publication year: 2025
Journal: Personality and Individual Differences
Journal name in source: Personality and Individual Differences
Article number: 113417
Volume: 247
ISSN: 0191-8869
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2025.113417
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: No Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : Partially Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2025.113417
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/499816113
The aim of this study was to quantitatively investigate the strength and shape of the relationship between Dark Triad personality traits—narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy—and the occurrence of depression symptoms in non-clinical populations. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 44 studies involving a total of 34,037 participants. Specific analyses focused on: grandiose narcissism and depression (k = 38, 47 samples); vulnerable narcissism and depression (k = 7, 7 samples); Machiavellianism and depression (k = 33, 38 samples), and psychopathy and depression (k = 31, 36 samples). The meta-analysis revealed 1) a negative non-significant association between grandiose narcissism and depression symptoms; 2) a large and positive association between vulnerable narcissism and depression; 3) a small-to-moderate and positive association between Machiavellianism and depression; and 4) a small-to-moderate and positive association between psychopathy and depression. These findings provide a deeper and more nuanced understanding of how Dark Triad personality traits are associated with depression, with potentially novel and important implications for the etiology and treatment of psychopathology.
Funding information in the publication:
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
