Vulnerable Narcissism and Emotion Dysregulation as Mediators in the Link between Childhood Emotional Abuse and Binge Watching

Individuals who have faced childhood emotional abuse (CEA) may develop vulnerable narcissistic tendencies and experience difficulties in regulating their emotions. These psychological vulnerabilities can contribute to the adoption of binge watching as a maladaptive coping mechanism. The present stud...

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Main Authors: Valeria Verrastro, Danilo Calaresi, Fiorenza Giordano, Valeria Saladino
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-09-01
Series:European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/14/10/173
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author Valeria Verrastro
Danilo Calaresi
Fiorenza Giordano
Valeria Saladino
author_facet Valeria Verrastro
Danilo Calaresi
Fiorenza Giordano
Valeria Saladino
author_sort Valeria Verrastro
collection DOAJ
description Individuals who have faced childhood emotional abuse (CEA) may develop vulnerable narcissistic tendencies and experience difficulties in regulating their emotions. These psychological vulnerabilities can contribute to the adoption of binge watching as a maladaptive coping mechanism. The present study aimed to investigate the potential mediating role of vulnerable narcissism and emotion dysregulation in the relationship between CEA and binge watching. Additionally, this study examined whether this model was gender-invariant. A sample of 1082 emerging adults, aged 18 to 25 (50% women), completed self-report questionnaires. The results revealed significant direct and indirect relationships among all the variables of interest, and the model was found to be invariant across genders. Notably, both men and women who experienced CEA and exhibited higher levels of vulnerable narcissism and emotion dysregulation reported engaging in higher levels of binge watching. These findings highlight the importance of the early identification of CEA, the implementation of targeted interventions, and the provision of trauma-informed care to address the negative consequences of CEA and mitigate the development of binge-watching behaviors. Moreover, the results emphasize the need for tailored prevention and intervention programs that address vulnerable narcissism and emotion dysregulation as potential pathways to inform effective therapeutic strategies.
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spelling doaj-art-c07216cdf39b4c3c91dcc1e16180c2732025-08-20T02:11:00ZengMDPI AGEuropean Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education2174-81442254-96252024-09-0114102628264110.3390/ejihpe14100173Vulnerable Narcissism and Emotion Dysregulation as Mediators in the Link between Childhood Emotional Abuse and Binge WatchingValeria Verrastro0Danilo Calaresi1Fiorenza Giordano2Valeria Saladino3Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, ItalyDepartment of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, ItalyDepartment of Human Sciences, Society and Health, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, 03043 Cassino, ItalyDepartment of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, ItalyIndividuals who have faced childhood emotional abuse (CEA) may develop vulnerable narcissistic tendencies and experience difficulties in regulating their emotions. These psychological vulnerabilities can contribute to the adoption of binge watching as a maladaptive coping mechanism. The present study aimed to investigate the potential mediating role of vulnerable narcissism and emotion dysregulation in the relationship between CEA and binge watching. Additionally, this study examined whether this model was gender-invariant. A sample of 1082 emerging adults, aged 18 to 25 (50% women), completed self-report questionnaires. The results revealed significant direct and indirect relationships among all the variables of interest, and the model was found to be invariant across genders. Notably, both men and women who experienced CEA and exhibited higher levels of vulnerable narcissism and emotion dysregulation reported engaging in higher levels of binge watching. These findings highlight the importance of the early identification of CEA, the implementation of targeted interventions, and the provision of trauma-informed care to address the negative consequences of CEA and mitigate the development of binge-watching behaviors. Moreover, the results emphasize the need for tailored prevention and intervention programs that address vulnerable narcissism and emotion dysregulation as potential pathways to inform effective therapeutic strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/14/10/173childhood emotional abusevulnerable narcissismemotion dysregulationbinge watchingemerging adults
spellingShingle Valeria Verrastro
Danilo Calaresi
Fiorenza Giordano
Valeria Saladino
Vulnerable Narcissism and Emotion Dysregulation as Mediators in the Link between Childhood Emotional Abuse and Binge Watching
European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education
childhood emotional abuse
vulnerable narcissism
emotion dysregulation
binge watching
emerging adults
title Vulnerable Narcissism and Emotion Dysregulation as Mediators in the Link between Childhood Emotional Abuse and Binge Watching
title_full Vulnerable Narcissism and Emotion Dysregulation as Mediators in the Link between Childhood Emotional Abuse and Binge Watching
title_fullStr Vulnerable Narcissism and Emotion Dysregulation as Mediators in the Link between Childhood Emotional Abuse and Binge Watching
title_full_unstemmed Vulnerable Narcissism and Emotion Dysregulation as Mediators in the Link between Childhood Emotional Abuse and Binge Watching
title_short Vulnerable Narcissism and Emotion Dysregulation as Mediators in the Link between Childhood Emotional Abuse and Binge Watching
title_sort vulnerable narcissism and emotion dysregulation as mediators in the link between childhood emotional abuse and binge watching
topic childhood emotional abuse
vulnerable narcissism
emotion dysregulation
binge watching
emerging adults
url https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/14/10/173
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AT fiorenzagiordano vulnerablenarcissismandemotiondysregulationasmediatorsinthelinkbetweenchildhoodemotionalabuseandbingewatching
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