The relationship between the Dark Triad and academic burnout mediated by perfectionistic self-presentation
Individuals with dark personality traits are more prone to burnout, but this was not yet investigated in academia. Perfectionistic self-presentation (PSPS), an interpersonal expression of perfectionism, could be an explaining factor. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between the dark triad...
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Elsevier
2024-10-01
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| Series: | Acta Psychologica |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691824003779 |
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| author | Melissa Klerks Roberta Dumitrescu Elien De Caluwé |
| author_facet | Melissa Klerks Roberta Dumitrescu Elien De Caluwé |
| author_sort | Melissa Klerks |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Individuals with dark personality traits are more prone to burnout, but this was not yet investigated in academia. Perfectionistic self-presentation (PSPS), an interpersonal expression of perfectionism, could be an explaining factor. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between the dark triad (Machiavellianism, vulnerable and grandiose narcissism, and psychopathy) and academic burnout, and whether the PSPS total score and its dimensions (perfectionistic self-promotion, nondisplay of imperfection, and nondisclosure of imperfection) mediates this. We expected that higher dark triad traits would be associated with higher academic burnout and that this would be explained by higher PSPS. Hypotheses included expectations for each PSPS dimension as well. Questionnaires were completed by 304 bachelor/master students (Mage = 22.81 years). Mediations were performed for each dark triad trait with total PSPS and each of its dimensions separately as mediator, and academic burnout as dependent variable. Total PSPS and almost all of its dimensions positively and significantly mediated the relation between Machiavellianism as well as psychopathy and academic burnout (small effect sizes). In contrast, only the PSPS dimension nondisplay of imperfection was a significant, positive mediator of the relation between grandiose narcissism and academic burnout (medium effect size). The other mediations with grandiose or vulnerable narcissism were non-significant. Future research should investigate this further, for instance by using the standard dark triad scales. Finally, this study offers insights for interventions and prevention of academic burnout by highlighting the unique impact of each dark triad trait. For example, those high on Machiavellianism may benefit from tools to deal with cynicism and perfectionism, ultimately lowering the risk for academic burnout. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-61a7d443b8b34d089509efd15073e24a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0001-6918 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Psychologica |
| spelling | doaj-art-61a7d443b8b34d089509efd15073e24a2024-11-10T04:07:26ZengElsevierActa Psychologica0001-69182024-10-01250104499The relationship between the Dark Triad and academic burnout mediated by perfectionistic self-presentationMelissa Klerks0Roberta Dumitrescu1Elien De Caluwé2Department of Developmental Psychology, Tilburg University, the NetherlandsDepartment of Developmental Psychology, Tilburg University, the NetherlandsCorresponding author at: Department of Developmental Psychology, Tilburg University, P.O. Box 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, the Netherlands.; Department of Developmental Psychology, Tilburg University, the NetherlandsIndividuals with dark personality traits are more prone to burnout, but this was not yet investigated in academia. Perfectionistic self-presentation (PSPS), an interpersonal expression of perfectionism, could be an explaining factor. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between the dark triad (Machiavellianism, vulnerable and grandiose narcissism, and psychopathy) and academic burnout, and whether the PSPS total score and its dimensions (perfectionistic self-promotion, nondisplay of imperfection, and nondisclosure of imperfection) mediates this. We expected that higher dark triad traits would be associated with higher academic burnout and that this would be explained by higher PSPS. Hypotheses included expectations for each PSPS dimension as well. Questionnaires were completed by 304 bachelor/master students (Mage = 22.81 years). Mediations were performed for each dark triad trait with total PSPS and each of its dimensions separately as mediator, and academic burnout as dependent variable. Total PSPS and almost all of its dimensions positively and significantly mediated the relation between Machiavellianism as well as psychopathy and academic burnout (small effect sizes). In contrast, only the PSPS dimension nondisplay of imperfection was a significant, positive mediator of the relation between grandiose narcissism and academic burnout (medium effect size). The other mediations with grandiose or vulnerable narcissism were non-significant. Future research should investigate this further, for instance by using the standard dark triad scales. Finally, this study offers insights for interventions and prevention of academic burnout by highlighting the unique impact of each dark triad trait. For example, those high on Machiavellianism may benefit from tools to deal with cynicism and perfectionism, ultimately lowering the risk for academic burnout.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691824003779Academic burnoutDark triadPsychopathyMachiavellianismNarcissismPerfectionistic self-presentation |
| spellingShingle | Melissa Klerks Roberta Dumitrescu Elien De Caluwé The relationship between the Dark Triad and academic burnout mediated by perfectionistic self-presentation Acta Psychologica Academic burnout Dark triad Psychopathy Machiavellianism Narcissism Perfectionistic self-presentation |
| title | The relationship between the Dark Triad and academic burnout mediated by perfectionistic self-presentation |
| title_full | The relationship between the Dark Triad and academic burnout mediated by perfectionistic self-presentation |
| title_fullStr | The relationship between the Dark Triad and academic burnout mediated by perfectionistic self-presentation |
| title_full_unstemmed | The relationship between the Dark Triad and academic burnout mediated by perfectionistic self-presentation |
| title_short | The relationship between the Dark Triad and academic burnout mediated by perfectionistic self-presentation |
| title_sort | relationship between the dark triad and academic burnout mediated by perfectionistic self presentation |
| topic | Academic burnout Dark triad Psychopathy Machiavellianism Narcissism Perfectionistic self-presentation |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691824003779 |
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