Could the secret to a healthier society be hidden within traits we often view negatively? A new study spanning the United States has unearthed surprising connections between narcissism and various health outcomes, suggesting that this much-maligned characteristic might have a silver lining. In their study, published in the Journal of Research in Personality, the researchers found that states with higher levels of narcissism experience lower rates of obesity and depression, alongside an increased demand for plastic surgery and a tendency towards shorter sleep durations.
Narcissism refers to a personality trait characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance, a deep need for excessive attention and admiration, and a lack of empathy for others. However, this trait is not monolithic; it spans a spectrum from healthy levels of self-confidence and self-assurance to pathological forms that can significantly impair interpersonal relationships and social functioning. The adaptive aspects of narcissism, such as ambition, resilience, and the ability to maintain a positive self-image, suggest that it could have beneficial impacts on individual behavior.
Recognizing a gap in the literature, where the focus has predominantly been on the detrimental aspects of narcissism, the new study aimed to investigate the positive side of this personality trait. Specifically, it sought to determine whether the adaptive components of narcissism could lead to better health behaviors and outcomes.
“The study was initiated out of curiosity about how narcissistic traits, often deemed negative, could potentially contribute to positive health behaviors and outcomes,” said study author Dritjon Gruda, an invited associate professor in organizational behavior at the Católica Porto Business School and lecturer at Maynooth University.
The study collected data from 4,230 individuals, aged between 18 to 85 years, from 38 states. This sample was carefully chosen to represent a broad demographic spectrum, comparing closely with U.S. Census data to ensure representativeness in terms of age, gender, and race/ethnicity.
Participants in the study were asked to complete the Short Dark Triad (SD3) questionnaire, a widely recognized measure that assesses subclinical levels of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. Alongside the SD3, the survey included questions regarding demographic information and a range of health outcomes, both self-reported and objectively measured through data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), such as obesity rates, heart failure, hypertension deaths, and the prevalence of plastic surgery across states.
The researchers’ findings presented a complex picture of narcissism’s impact on health. At the state level, narcissism was notably associated with several positive health outcomes. States with higher average levels of narcissism reported lower rates of obesity and depression, suggesting that the adaptive aspects of narcissism, such as a greater focus on self-image and perhaps a more proactive approach to health and fitness, could contribute to better overall health.
“The main insights are that some aspects of narcissism, such as confidence and a focus on self-care, seem to encourage healthier lifestyles,” Gruda told PsyPost. “The study highlights the importance of a balanced perspective on self-focus and ambition in relation to health.”
Furthermore, the demand for plastic surgery was higher in these states, reinforcing the notion that narcissistic individuals might place a higher value on physical appearance, leading to increased engagement with cosmetic enhancements.
Narcissism was also negatively associated with certain health conditions like heart failure and hypertension deaths, suggesting beneficial effects, but it did not show significant associations with other health behaviors such as frequency of medical check-ups or dental visits.
“While we expected to find population-level narcissism to be associated with lower obesity and depression rates and a higher demand for plastic surgery, we also found that states with a highly narcissistic population reported an overall lower death rate due to heart failure and hypertension,” Gruda said.
However, the study also uncovered less favorable associations. For example, higher state-level narcissism correlated with a greater percentage of individuals sleeping less than seven hours per night, indicating a potential downside to the trait’s adaptive qualities. This finding hints at the complex balance between narcissism’s beneficial effects on self-care and its potentially harmful tendencies, such as overwork or heightened stress, which can reduce sleep quality and duration.
In contrast, Machiavellianism and psychopathy showed fewer clear associations with health outcomes, though Machiavellianism was linked to higher rates of binge drinking—a finding that opens new avenues for understanding how different facets of personality influence health behaviors.
The researchers accounted for potential confounders such as public health funding, poverty rates, and per capita income. But the study, like all research, is not without its limitations. The reliance on self-reported data for some measures introduces potential biases, and the study’s design cannot prove causation—only association. The complex nature of narcissism, with its mix of potentially positive and negative impacts on health, suggests that more research is needed to untangle these effects fully.
“A crucial caveat of the study is that narcissism, and the other two dark triad traits Machiavellianism and psychopathy, were measured on the U.S. state-level and associated with state-level public health outcomes,” Gruda noted. “So, just because you live in a state with a highly narcissistic population (compared to other states), this does not make you are a narcissist nor does it mean that you yourself, for example, have a strong interest in undergoing plastic surgery.”
Future studies could explore the mechanisms behind narcissism’s influence on health behaviors and outcomes, perhaps focusing on how societal and cultural factors interact with personality to shape health. The researchers also suggest examining how interventions targeting narcissistic traits could potentially improve public health strategies.
“We aim to explore associations between the dark triads and other state-level outcomes in future studies,” Gruda told PsyPost. “It’s essential to balance the benefits of narcissistic traits without overlooking possible negative effects. The study advocates for a nuanced approach to utilizing personality traits in better understanding public health outcomes.”
The study, “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Who’s the Healthiest of them All – The Surprising Role of Narcissism in State-Level Health Outcomes,” was authored by Dritjon Gruda, Paul Hanges, and Jim McCleskey.