Mediation effect of narcissism on the relationship between empathy and the quality of interpersonal relationships

Abstract This study examined the mediatory role of narcissism on the relationship between empathy and the quality of interpersonal relationships. A sample of 609 university students (165 males, 399 females, 45 unknown) were included in this study. All participants completed the Emotional Empathy Scale (EES), the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP), and the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI). The results showed that empathy and narcissism had significant positive and negative correlation with the quality of interpersonal relationships, respectively. The results of path analysis revealed that narcissism mediated the relationship between empathy and the quality of interpersonal relationships.

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