Differences between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism and bulimic symptoms in young women

Researchers have found some evidence of a link between narcissism and bulimia nervosa (BN). It is increasingly recognized, however, that there are two forms of narcissism: grandiose and vulnerable. Unfortunately, extant research on this relation has failed to distinguish between these forms. This is important as they differ in underlying traits, etiology, and outcomes. In the current study, we examined the relations between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism and BN and tested whether the relation between vulnerable narcissism and BN is confounded by trait levels of neuroticism. As hypothesized, only vulnerable narcissism was related with BN symptoms and much of this relation was explained by neuroticism. Future research should examine what vulnerable narcissism adds to the prediction of BN above and beyond neuroticism. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.