The relationship between rejection sensitivity and loneliness: The mediating roles of vulnerable narcissism, grandiose narcissism, and self esteem

Rejection sensitivity and loneliness are some of the psychological factors that negatively affect people's lives. The literature has revealed evidence that rejection sensitivity may be associated with loneliness. The purpose of this study was to examine the possible mediating roles of vulnerable narcissism, grandiose narcissism, and self-esteem in the relationship between rejection sensitivity and loneliness. The research sample consisted of 296 [231 (78%) women, 63 (21.3%) men] university students in İstanbul, whose ages are between 18 and 28 years. Socio-demographic Information Form, Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire, Pathological Narcissism Inventory, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and UCLA Loneliness Scale were used for the data collection. The findings of the analyses revealed that vulnerable narcissism, grandiose narcissism, and self-esteem significantly predict loneliness. When the serial mediation models were tested, it was found that grandiose narcissism and self-esteem in the first model, and vulnerable narcissism, and self-esteem in the second model had mediating roles respectively in the relationship between rejection sensitivity and loneliness. Research findings are discussed in the light of the literature, and the limitations of the study and its contributions to clinical practice and suggestions for future research are presented.