RESEARCH PAPER
Adaptive and maladaptive correlates of the Dark Triad: associations with mental toughness and resilience
1
Institute of Criminological and Sociological Research, Belgrade, Serbia
2
Faculty of Security Studies, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
3
Department of Business and Economics, TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany
Submission date: 2025-11-20
Final revision date: 2026-08-18
Acceptance date: 2026-08-29
Online publication date: 2026-10-06
Corresponding author
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background:
Dark Triad traits have been associated with a range of both adaptive and maladaptive outcomes. Subclinical narcissism, in particular, is associated with self-confidence and effective coping strategies that may enhance psychological functioning. Mental toughness, encompassing cognitive, emotional, and motivational processes, is a key mechanism through which personality traits may influence resilience.
Participants and procedure:
The current study aimed to examine the relationships among Dark Triad traits, mental toughness, and resilience in a sample of 319 Serbian university students (28% male, 72% female; mean age = 22.23, SD = 2.48). Participants completed online measures of Dark Triad traits, mental toughness, and resilience via a Google Forms survey during the first half of 2025, a period of student protests and educational disruption. Mental toughness was assessed with the MTQ-18, resilience with the Resilience Scale, and Dark Triad traits with the Short Dark Triad.
Results:
Subclinical narcissism was positively associated with both mental toughness (r = .32, p < .01) and resilience (r = .32, p < .01), while Machiavellianism and psychopathy showed no significant associations. Regression analyses indicated that only narcissism was significantly associated with both outcomes. Mediation analysis using bootstrapping indicated a significant indirect effect of narcissism on resilience through mental toughness (B = 0.17, BootSE = 0.03, 95% CI [0.12, 0.23]), suggesting that mental toughness may account for the association between narcissism and resilience.
Conclusions:
Our findings highlight the potentially adaptive potential of subclinical narcissism. In contrast, Machiavellianism and psychopathy were not significantly associated with adaptive functioning, underscoring the differential roles of Dark Triad traits in relation to psychological outcomes. Future research should examine how these traits may interact with adaptive functioning and maladaptive outcomes.
Dark Triad traits have been associated with a range of both adaptive and maladaptive outcomes. Subclinical narcissism, in particular, is associated with self-confidence and effective coping strategies that may enhance psychological functioning. Mental toughness, encompassing cognitive, emotional, and motivational processes, is a key mechanism through which personality traits may influence resilience.
Participants and procedure:
The current study aimed to examine the relationships among Dark Triad traits, mental toughness, and resilience in a sample of 319 Serbian university students (28% male, 72% female; mean age = 22.23, SD = 2.48). Participants completed online measures of Dark Triad traits, mental toughness, and resilience via a Google Forms survey during the first half of 2025, a period of student protests and educational disruption. Mental toughness was assessed with the MTQ-18, resilience with the Resilience Scale, and Dark Triad traits with the Short Dark Triad.
Results:
Subclinical narcissism was positively associated with both mental toughness (r = .32, p < .01) and resilience (r = .32, p < .01), while Machiavellianism and psychopathy showed no significant associations. Regression analyses indicated that only narcissism was significantly associated with both outcomes. Mediation analysis using bootstrapping indicated a significant indirect effect of narcissism on resilience through mental toughness (B = 0.17, BootSE = 0.03, 95% CI [0.12, 0.23]), suggesting that mental toughness may account for the association between narcissism and resilience.
Conclusions:
Our findings highlight the potentially adaptive potential of subclinical narcissism. In contrast, Machiavellianism and psychopathy were not significantly associated with adaptive functioning, underscoring the differential roles of Dark Triad traits in relation to psychological outcomes. Future research should examine how these traits may interact with adaptive functioning and maladaptive outcomes.
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