This study examined the mediating role of Difficulties in Emotion Regulation and the moderating role of Mentalization in the relationship between Covert Narcissism and Relationship Addiction in early adulthood. A total of 312 adults completed an onlin...
This study examined the mediating role of Difficulties in Emotion Regulation and the moderating role of Mentalization in the relationship between Covert Narcissism and Relationship Addiction in early adulthood. A total of 312 adults completed an online self-report survey. Covert Narcissism significantly predicted higher levels of Relationship Addiction. Difficulties in Emotion Regulation mediated this association, indicating that emotional vulnerability functions as a key mechanism linking covert narcissistic traits to maladaptive relationship dependence. Mentalization moderated the path from Difficulties in Emotion Regulation to Relationship Addiction; the association weakened as Mentalization increased, demonstrating its buffering function. Furthermore, the indirect effect of Covert Narcissism on Relationship Addiction through Difficulties in Emotion Regulation was significantly moderated by Mentalization. These findings highlight the psychological processes underlying Relationship Addiction in early adulthood and underscore the importance of interventions targeting Difficulties in Emotion Regulation and Mentalization to reduce vulnerability to maladaptive relational patterns.