Mediating effect of negative cognitive processing bias in the relationship between pathological narcissism and interpersonal conflict in college students / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the mediating role of negative cognitive processing bias between pathological narcissism and interpersonal conflict of college students.Methods:The pathological narcissism, negative cognitive processing bias and interpersonal conflict of 540 college students were investigated by the super brief-PNI, negative cognitive processing bias questionnaire and NRI-relationship quality version.Descriptive analysis, correlation analysis and reliability test of the questionnaires were conducted by SPSS 27.0 software.Amos 23.0 software was used for structural equation modeling, and the nonparametric percentile Bootstrap method based on deviation correction was used for intermediary effect test.Results:The scores of pathological narcissism, negative cognitive processing bias and interpersonal conflict were (3.33±0.86), (2.41±0.60) and (2.34±0.77), respectively.Pathological narcissism, negative cognitive processing bias and interpersonal conflict were significantly positively correlated ( r=0.38-0.94, all P<0.01). Negative cognitive processing bias played full mediating role in the relationship between pathological narcissism and interpersonal conflict. The model was well fitted ( χ2/ df=2.63, CFI =0.99, NFI=0.98, IFI=0.99, TLI=0.98, RMSEA=0.05). Path analysis and mediation test showed that pathological narcissism had a significant predictive effect on the total effect of interpersonal conflict among college students ( β=0.52, P<0.001). Pathological narcissism had a significant predictive effect on negative cognitive processing bias ( β=0.64, P<0.001). Negative cognitive processing bias had a significant predictive effect on interpersonal conflict ( β=0.76, P<0.001). Pathological narcissism didn’t predict the direct effect of interpersonal conflict significantly ( β=0.03, P>0.05). Conclusion:Pathological narcissism has a positive predictive effect on interpersonal conflict among college students.Negative cognitive processing bias plays a complete intermediary role between pathological narcissism and interpersonal conflict.