Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of vulnerability narcissism on body dissatisfaction and to confirm the sequential mediating effects of socially prescribed perfectionism and depression between them. For this study, an online survey based on 669 adults was conducted and the questionnaires consisted of the pathological narcissism inventory(PNI), the multidimensional perfectionism scales(MPS), the depression scale(CES-D), and the body shape questionnaire(BSQ). The results of the study were as follows. First, there was a significant correlation among all the variables of vulnerability narcissism, socially prescribed perfectionism, depression, and body dissatisfaction. Second, in the effect of vulnerability narcissism on body dissatisfaction, socially prescribed perfectionism, and depression showed a simple mediating effect. Third, in the effect of vulnerability narcissism on body dissatisfaction, socially prescribed perfectionism, and depression were sequentially mediated. These results suggest that people with vulnerable narcissism may experience depression if they show a high level of socially prescribed perfectionism, and may reveal the problem of body dissatisfaction through these mediating variables. Based on the above results, the significance of this study and suggestions for follow-up studies are presented.