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Anxiety

Dark Triad Traits Linked to Mental Health Issues: New Study Reveals Insights

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Research from the University of Regensburg has shed light on the intricate relationships between Dark Triad characteristics, emotion regulation, and mental health issues, particularly anxiety disorders. The study, published in Frontiers in Psychology, explored the associations between Dark Triad traits, alexithymia facets, and emotion regulation strategies in a sample of 425 adults from Germany. The findings suggest that individuals with higher levels of Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and stress.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found significant correlations between Machiavellianism and depression (tau-b correlation = 0.023), anxiety (tau-b correlation = 0.018), and perceived stress (tau-b correlation = 0.021).
  • The researchers used a cross-sectional online survey to collect data from participants, who completed the Naughty Nine questionnaire, the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire (PAQ), the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21).
  • The study employed multiple regression with robust standard errors, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and post-hoc comparisons to analyze the data and examine the relationships between Dark Triad traits, alexithymia facets, and emotion regulation strategies.
  • The findings suggest that Dark Triad traits, alexithymia, and emotion regulation are related to psychopathological symptoms in both clinical and non-clinical samples.
  • The researchers emphasize the need for longitudinal studies to confirm the observed links and evaluate the effectiveness of combined trait- and emotion-based interventions.
  • The study highlights the importance of considering both personality traits and emotion regulation strategies in the assessment and treatment of mental health issues.

Statistics:

  • The study involved 425 adults (72.2% female, 1.4% diverse, mean age = 31.36 years, age range 18-73 years).
  • The participants were recruited from the general population, inpatient, and outpatient psychiatric clinics in Regensburg, Germany.
  • The Naughty Nine questionnaire was completed by 425 participants.
  • The Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire (PAQ) was completed by 424 participants.
  • The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) was completed by 423 participants.
  • The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) was completed by 424 participants.
  • The study found significant correlations between Machiavellianism and depression, anxiety, and perceived stress.

Sources:

  • Dark Triad traits, alexithymia, and emotion regulation as predictors of depression, anxiety, and stress in clinical and non-clinical samples. Frontiers in Psychology, 2025;16:1674630.
  • Frontiers in Psychology, 2025;16:1674630. Frontiers in Psychology can be contacted at: Frontiers Media Sa, Avenue Du Tribunal Federal 34, Lausanne, Ch-1015, Switzerland.
  • Mental Health Weekly Digest. October 20, 2025; p 997.

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