Parenting to Prevent Narcissism and Develop Self-Esteem

Parental overvaluation was associated with child narcissism; parental warmth was associated with self-esteem.

Narcissism — a grandiose view of one's own talents and a craving for admiration — is a personality trait that may restrict normal development. To understand factors that predispose children to narcissism during late childhood, when narcissistic traits emerge, investigators conducted a prospective, longitudinal study of 565 Dutch children (7–11 years old) and their parents.

Children completed standardized questionnaires to assess narcissism (e.g., “kids like me deserve something extra”), self-esteem (e.g., “kids like me are happy with themselves as a person”), and parental warmth (e.g., “my father/mother lets me know he/she loves me”). Parents completed standardized questionnaires to assess parental overvaluation (e.g., “my child is more spec…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics