Some studies suggest that narcissism, either grandiose, vulnerable, or normal, is empirically associated with healthy or pathological concern towards others. These relationships remain poorly documented, and existing research only offers theoretical rationales as to the nature of the narcissism–concern association. The present study aims to assess the relationships between the various types of narcissism and concern while including the mediating role of explicit motives. French-speaking adults (n = 213) completed self-report questionnaires measuring these constructs. Results of mediation analyses suggest that specific motives mediate the positive associations observed between vulnerable or grandiose narcissism and pathological concern as well as the negative associations observed between grandiose or normal narcissism and healthy concern. Thus, it seems that pathological concern could be used as a maladaptive self-regulation mechanism by both forms of pathological narcissism. Fear motives mediate both relationships, suggesting avoidance as the main drive behind pathological concern in pathological narcissism. Also, the negative association between normal narcissism and healthy concern is coherent with the antagonistic interpersonal style of this form of narcissism. Results add to the practical knowledge of narcissism through a better understanding of the factors involved in self-regulation mechanisms.

一些研究表明，自恋，无论是夸大的、脆弱的还是正常的，在经验上都与对他人的健康或病态关注有关。这些关系仍然没有得到很好的记录，现有的研究只提供了关于自恋-关注关联性质的理论依据。本研究旨在评估各种类型的自恋和关注之间的关系，同时包括明确动机的中介作用。讲法语的成年人（n = 213) 完成了测量这些结构的自我报告问卷。中介分析的结果表明，特定动机介导了在脆弱或夸大自恋与病态关注之间观察到的正相关，以及在夸大或正常自恋与健康关注之间观察到的负相关。因此，两种形式的病态自恋似乎都可以将病态关注用作适应不良的自我调节机制。恐惧动机介导了这两种关系，这表明回避是病态自恋中病态关注背后的主要驱动力。此外，正常自恋与健康关注之间的负相关与这种自恋形式的敌对人际关系风格相一致。