Addictive Behaviors Reports 11 (2020) 100252

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Addictive Behaviors Reports

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Narcissism and problematic social media use: A systematic literature review T

a,⁎ b
Silvia Casale , Vanessa Banchi
a
Department of Health Sciences, Psychology Unit, University of Florence, Via San Salvi 12, Padiglione 26, 50135 Florence, Italy
b
School of Psychology, University of Florence, Via della Torretta 16, 50135 Florence, Italy

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

Keywords: Introduction: The relationship between narcissism and social media use has been a topic of research since the
Narcissism advent of the first social media website. While numerous meta-analyses have been conducted to synthesize
Problematic social media use empirical evidence on the association between narcissism and typical online behaviors (e.g., uploading photos
Problematic Facebook Use and usage frequency), evidence on the association between narcissism and Problematic Social Media Use (PSMU)
Systematic review
has not yet been systematized. The current study represents the first systematic review on this topic.
Methods: Electronic literature databases, including the Web of Science, MEDLINE, PsychINFO, and EMBASE,
were searched to identify studies that examined the relationship between narcissism and PSMU. We found 14
empirical studies on narcissism and PSMU. Additionally, seven studies focused on the association with
Problematic Facebook Use (PFU).
Results: Consistent results were reported regarding the positive and significant association between grandiose
narcissism and PFU (0.13 < r < 0.32). The only two studies that included a vulnerable narcissism measure
reported a positive and significant correlation with PFU as well. Studies that did not distinguish between dif-
ferent online platforms (i.e., those measuring PSMU) reported less consistent results.
Conclusions: The results generally revealed that narcissism might be involved in PFU, but it might not have
consistent effects across social media platforms. The assessment of problematic social media use without dis-
tinguishing different platforms might not individuate narcissists' preferences and risks. However, our findings
need to be interpreted with caution not only due to the relatively small number of studies on this topic but also
because 19 studies out 21 used a cross-sectional design.

1. Introduction media might be linked to a behavioural addiction, which in extreme

cases may manifest itself in symptoms and consequences traditionally
The use of social media has markedly increased over the past few associated with substance-related addictions (e.g., salience, tolerance,
years. The number of users of online social networking sites (SNSs) mood regulation, withdrawal, conflict, relapse). Some other researchers
worldwide stood at approximately 2.46 billion in 2017, and it is esti- (see, for example, Carbonell & Panova, 2017) argue against classifying
mated that there will be around 3.09 billion social media users around Problematic Social Media Use (PSMU) as a psychiatric disorder, as re-
the globe by the end of 2021 (Statista, 2020). In October 2019, Face- peated and persistent use of SNSs might result from a temporary coping
book (FB) alone had 2.45 billion monthly active users. Instagram (IG) strategy as an expected response to common stressors or losses (see
has recently surpassed 1 billion monthly active users, the vast majority Billieux et al., 2017; Kardefelt-Winther, 2017). Therefore, the lack of
of whom are using it on a daily basis (Statista, 2020). consistency underlying the broader concept of PSMU makes it difficult
Although social media platforms bring many benefits to their users, to establish a sole definition of this phenomenon (e.g., Caci, Cardaci,
concerns have been raised about the potential adverse consequences of Scrima, & Tabacchi, 2017) as well as to use the same assessment tool for
frequent social network activity (Müller et al., 2016), especially for assessing the problematic use of social media (Pontes, Kuss, & Griffiths,
mental and social well-being. A systematic review of 65 studies (Frost & 2015). The different approach and terms that have been used include
Rickwood, 2017) has found positive associations between intensive FB (a) “Social media addiction,” “Pathological Social media use,” and
use and symptoms of key psychiatric disorders (e.g., anxiety, depressive “Social media disorder” used when the criteria of addiction (i.e., sal-
symptoms, body image dissatisfaction, and disordered eating). Some ience, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, and relapse)
researchers (e.g., Kuss, 2017) also argue that the excessive use of social have been considered; (b) “Problematic Social media Use” or

⁎
Corresponding author.
E-mail address: [email protected] (S. Casale).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2020.100252
Received 4 December 2019; Received in revised form 17 January 2020; Accepted 17 January 2020
Available online 28 January 2020
2352-8532/ © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/BY-NC-ND/4.0/).
S. Casale and V. Banchi Addictive Behaviors Reports 11 (2020) 100252

“Problematic use of Internet communicative services” in order to not a shorthand for those scoring higher on inventories of narcissistic per-
over-pathologize daily life activities; this includes both addictive-like sonality—can be divided into grandiose narcissists (GNs) and vulner-
symptoms (i.e., deficient self-regulation) and specific features such as able narcissists (VNs). The existence of two forms of narcissism was first
the preference for online social interaction, which lead to the use of conceptualized and examined by Wink (1991), and a portion of the
social media to regulate negative feelings (Caplan, 2010). The same psychology literature (Hendin & Cheek, 1997) has confirmed the ex-
conceptual frameworks have also been applied to the excessive use of istence of these two types. Grandiose narcissism (GN) reflects traits
specific social media platforms (i.e., Facebook), albeit sometimes some related to grandiosity, aggression, and dominance, while vulnerable
specific terms have also been introduced. The term “Facebook intru- narcissism (VN) is largely marked by hypersensitivity to the opinions of
sion” was first introduced by Elphinston and Noller (2011) to indicate others, an intense desire for approval, and defensiveness (Dickinson &
an “excessive attachment to Facebook, which interferes with day-to-day Pincus, 2003). Despite these differences, grandiose and vulnerable
activities and with relationship functioning” (p.631), and it is based on narcissism share some core traits, such as a sense of entitlement,
Brown’s behavioral addiction components (1997). In fact, Problematic grandiose fantasies, and the need for admiration (Dickinson & Pincus,
Facebook Use (PFU) has been often considered as a distinct behaviour 2003; Pincus et al., 2009).
happening on the Internet but with specific characteristics and psy- Special emphasis has been placed on the theoretical speculation that
chological issues involved, and it has been conceptualized and analyzed social media are ideal environments for achieving narcissistic goals. In
per se (see Marino, Gini, Vieno, & Spada, 2018). fact, various attributes of SNSs make them seem an ideal tool for dis-
Despite the different approaches and some conflicting positions on playing grandiosity and receiving desired attention (Barry &
whether problematic SNSs use can be classified as a disorder, there is no McDougall, 2018). First, SNSs provide greater control over self-pre-
doubt that a subset of SNSs users show a preference for computer sentation, compared to face-to-face interactions, rendering them a
mediated interactions and experience certain negative consequences useful venue for the development of strategic interpersonal behaviors,
because of their excessive use of these sites, as shown by the available many of which are used by narcissists to construct and maintain a
empirical evidence (e.g., Casale, Fioravanti, & Caplan, 2015). For this carefully considered self-image (Morf & Rhodewalt, 2001). Second,
reason, many efforts have been made in the last twenty years to gain an social media use allows individuals to advertise their successes to a
understanding of the psycho-social factors that might be implicated in large audience, while also obtaining highly visible rewards and re-
developing PSMU. cognition through “likes” and positive comments from other social
media users (Andreassen, Pallesen, & Griffith, 2017). Moreover, given
1.1. Narcissism and PSMU the rise of SNS use on mobile devices, SNSs are accessible at all times
and in all places. This implies that narcissists can both curate, manage,
PSMU can be shaped by many factors. Personality is arguably a key and promote an online “self” throughout the day and obtain frequent
individual difference variable that has been shown to play an important feedback on their efforts. For these reasons, some scholars (e.g., Ksinan
role in the initiation, development, and maintenance of addictive be- & Vazsonyi, 2016) have recently begun to argue that high levels of
haviors (see Andreassen et al., 2013; Grant, Potenza, Weinstein, & narcissism might not only be associated with peculiar online behaviors
Gorelick, 2010). Since the various definitions of PSMU, albeit different, (i.e., higher frequency of photo uploading) but also lead to problematic
agree on including addictive-like symptoms, various studies (e.g., use (e.g., deficient self-regulation) and subsequent negative outcomes.
Wang, Ho, Chan, & Tse, 2015) have examined the role of personality That is, narcissists might become addicted to the unique communicative
traits—generally categorized according to the Five-Factor Model. A environment offered by social media because it is conducive the ful-
recent meta-analysis focused on PFU (Marino et al., 2018) that included filment of their self-enhancement needs. Previous studies examining the
56 independent samples with a total of 27.867 participants (59.22% association between narcissistic traits and PSMU have shown opposite
females) found a low positive correlation [r = 0.22; 95% CI [0.19, findings or, at least, inconsistent results. For example, whereas some
0.26], k = 0.16, Z = 10.96, p < .001] with neuroticism and an even studies have found a clear positive association between grandiose
lower negative correlation [r = 0.16; 95% CI [-0.21, 0.09], k = . 15, narcissism and PSMU (e.g., Andreassen et al., 2017), other studies have
Z = 4.82, p < .001] with conscientiousness. Also, the above-men- found relatively weak associations (e.g., Casale & Fioravanti, 2018) and
tioned meta-analysis has shown that needs motivating Facebook use no attempts have been made to systematically review the available
had the strongest association with PFU. On the one hand, this result evidence.
suggests that the Big Five conceptualization of personality might not be
helpful in understanding this specific type of problematic behaviour. On 1.2. Aims of the review
the other hand, this result suggests that the tendency to satisfy needs
through the use of social media needs to be taken into account, in To our knowledge, there is no systematic review on the association
keeping with various relevant theoretical perspectives (e.g., the Uses between the two forms of narcissism and PSMU. Existing reviews in-
and Gratification Theory by Katz, Blumler, & Gurevitch, 1974; the dual clude: (a) a meta-analysis of studies (Liu & Baumeister, 2016) on the
factor-model of Facebook use by Nadkarni & Hofmann, 2012). association between the grandiose form and SNS activities (i.e., status
In light of both theories and empirical evidence, research on nar- updates, posting photographs, interacting with others, commenting on
cissism and social media use has been especially popular in recent years others’ posts, and total friends); (b) a meta-analysis (Gnambs & Appel,
(see, for example, Bergman, Fearrington, Davenport, & Bergman, 2018) on the links between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism and
2011), since it seems that the social media context offers an ideal social networking behaviours (e.g., uploading photos and usage fre-
communicative environment to satisfy narcissistic needs. Below we quency); (c) a systematic review (Moor & Anderson, 2019) on how the
describe the definition of narcissism used in the present manuscript as dark triad/tetrad relate to antisocial online behaviors (e.g., trolling
well the theoretical reasons for why narcissism has been receiving behaviors); (d) a meta-analytic review (McCain & Campbell, 2018) of
growing scholarly attention in the social media literature in the last ten studies on both forms of narcissism and social media use (e.g., time
years. spent on social media and number of selfies uploaded); and (e) a meta-
Trait narcissism is considered a dimensional personality trait that analytic review focused on FB use (Carvalho & Pianowski, 2017), which
consists of a grandiose self-concept as well as behaviors intended to found a moderate effect size using number of FB friends and narcissism
maintain this self-concept in the face of reality (e.g., Emmons, 1984; measures.
Morf & Rhodewalt, 2001). Distinct from Narcissistic Personality Dis- Especially the meta-analyses by Gnambs and Appel (2018) and
order (NPD; American Psychiatric Association, 2013), trait narcissism McCain and Campbell (2018) are pertinent to the current study because
exists in the nonpathological population. Narcissists—a term we use as both assessed time spent on social media. Both meta-analyses found

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S. Casale and V. Banchi Addictive Behaviors Reports 11 (2020) 100252

Records identified through database

searching (n = 1213)
Medline = 79
PsychINFO = 137
Embase = 212
Web of science = 334
Scopus = 387
Proquest = 64

Records after duplicates were removed

(n = 613)
Records excluded (n = 555)
No relationship between
narcissism and problematic use of
Records screened by title AND abstract social media or specific social
(n = 613) media platforms (i.e. Facebook,
Instagram, Twitter)

Articles assessed for eligibility

(n = 44)

Articles excluded and reasons (n = 27)

Did not use a multidimensional
conceptualization of PSMU (n = 14)
Additional records
Are not published in a peer-reviewed identified from references
(hand-searched) (n = 4)
academic journal (n = 3)

Review paper/ Dissertations (n = 9)

Full text unable to be reviewed (n = 1)

Articles included in the review (n = 21)

Fig. 1. PRISMA flowchart depicting the study selection process.

grandiose narcissism to have a significant—albeit small—effect on so- excessive use. Second, whereas it is very likely that social media users
cial media usage intensity. Conversely, non-significant results were who exhibit problematic use of these platforms tend to excessively use
reported regarding the association with vulnerable narcissism. These the Internet, the intense or prolonged use per se does not imply ad-
two meta-analyses offer initial insights into how narcissistic traits might dictive symptoms (Griffiths, 2010) or problematic behaviour. Finally,
account not only for variations in the frequency of “normal” online people who intensively use social media may not present all the be-
behaviors (e.g., posting selfies) but also for excessive social media use. havioural addiction criteria that need to be simultaneously fulfilled in
However, scholars in the field agree that time spent on social media is order to classify a behaviour as problematic (Griffiths, 2009).
not necessarily indicative of problematic use for a number of reasons This consensus has led scholars in the field to not adopt time spent
(see Caplan, 2010; Griffiths, 2010). First, social media use is wide- online as an indicator of problematic behaviour and to rely on broader
spread especially among young adults, who tend to report intensive use and more exhaustive conceptualizations of the phenomenon (see
of social media without experiencing any negative outcomes. According Caplan, 2010). Despite the different approaches and terminology, there
to Caplan (2003), problematic use has more to do with the negative is consensus about the fact that a tendency to use social media to reg-
outcomes and with the deficient impulse control than with the ulate negative emotions, an obsessive thinking pattern, deficient self-

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S. Casale and V. Banchi Addictive Behaviors Reports 11 (2020) 100252

Table 1
Measures used in the studies (n = 21) included in the review.
Measure of Narcissism Dimensions N studies using the
measure

Grandiose Narcissism
Narcissistic Personality Inventory − 16 (NPI-16; Unidimensional construct 6
Ames, Rose, & Anderson, 2006)
Narcissistic Personality Inventory- 13 (NPI-13; Unidimensional construct 3
Gentile et al., 2013)
Narcissistic Personality Inventory − 34 (NPI-34; Unidimensional construct 1
Bazińska and Drat-Ruszczak, 2000)
Short Dark Triad (SD3; Jones & Paulhus, 2014) Unidimensional construct 3
Narcissism scale of the DTDD (Jonason & Unidimensional construct 2
Webster, 2010)
Childhood Narcissism Scale (CNS; Thomaes, Unidimensional construct 1
Stegge, Bushman, Olthof, & Denissen, 2008)
Narcissistic Personality Questionnaire (NPQ; Unidimensional construct 1
Zheng & Huang, 2005)
Single Item Narcissism Scale (SINS; Konrath, Unidimensional construct 1
Meier, & Bushman, 2014)
Vulnerable Narcissism
Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale (HSNS; Hendin Unidimensional construct 3
& Cheek, 1997)
Narcissistic Personality Questionnaire (NPQ; Unidimensional construct 1
Zheng & Huang, 2005)
Covert Narcissism Scale (CNS; Gang & Chung, Unidimensional construct 2
2002)
Problematic Social Media
use
Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS; Salience, Conflict, Mood Modification, Withdrawal, Tolerance, Relapse 6
Andreassen et al., 2017)
Social Media Disorder Scale (SMDS; van den Unidimensional construct 3
Eijnden, Lemmens, & Valkenburg, 2016)
Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale 2 Preference for Online Social Interactions, Mood Regulation, Deficient self- 1
(GPIUS2; Caplan, 2010 regulation, Negative Outcomes
Chinese Social Media Addiction Scale (Liu & Ma, Preference for Online Social Interactions, Mood Alteration, Negative 1
2018) Consequences and continued use, compulsive use and withdrawal,
salience, and relapse
Social Media Addiction Scale (Tutgun-Ünal & Preoccupation, Mood modification, Relapse, Conflict/problems 1
Deniz, 2015)
SNS addiction tendency Scale (Seo & Jo, 2013) Overuse, withdrawal, excessive use 2
Problematic Facebook
Use
Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS; Salience, Conflict, Mood Modification, Withdrawal, Tolerance, Relapse 6
Andreassen, Torsheim, Brunborg, & Pallesen,
2012
Facebook Intrusion Questionnaire (FIQ; Facebook Intrusion total score 1
Elphinston & Noller, 2011)

regulation, and negative outcomes related to one’s own use of social media or specific social media platforms (i.e., Facebook, Instagram,
media need to be present in order to deem the use of social media as Twitter), on the other hand; (b) use a multidimensional con-
problematic (see Caplan, 2010; Griffiths, 2010). In this paper, we pre- ceptualization of PSMU; (c) be published in a peer-reviewed academic
sent a systematic literature review that synthesizes the available evi- journal; and (d) be available in English.
dence on the relationship between the two forms of narcissism and This systematic literature review has a focus on narcissism and
PSMU conceptualized as a multidimensional phenomenon. PSMU at the subclinical level rather than at the clinical level in order to
increase the generalizability of the findings, as understanding person-
2. Method ality and behaviors as traits allows for greater flexibility and a deeper
understanding (see Haslam, Holland, & Kuppens, 2012). Moreover, the
This systematic literature review is guided by the Cochrane method, vast majority of the studies in the social media field has been conducted
and the search method and findings are presented in accordance with with non-clinical populations.
the relevant sections of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic
Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines (Higgins & Green, 2.2. Information sources and search strategies
2011; Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., Altman, D. G., PRISMA
Group, 2009). The protocol used to conduct this review is detailed The following databases were searched in June 2019: PsycINFO,
below. Medline Complete, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Psychology and
Behavioural Sciences Collection. The search strategy was tested and
2.1. Eligibility criteria refined prior to the formal search. More specifically, a search string or
subject term related to narcissism was combined with a PSMU-related
Studies were included in the systematic literature review based on search string or subject term, using Boolean operators. No limits were
the following inclusion criteria: they must (a) quantitatively examine added to the database searches. To identify eligible publications the
and report the relationship between grandiose narcissism, vulnerable following combinations of key words were entered in the databases’
narcissism or both, on the one hand, and problematic use of social topic/subject search fields: “Narcissism” or “Egotism” or “Inflated self-

4
 Table 2
Studies on narcissism and PSMU included in the review (n = 14).
Authors (year) Country Design Sample characteristics Findings Quality rating
Age = M (SD) (/20)

Andreassen et al. (2017) Norway Cross-sectional N = 23.532 community people Bivariate correlation 20
S. Casale and V. Banchi

(F = 65%)Age: 35.8 (13.3) GN was positively correlated with social media addiction total score (r = 0.06, p < .001)
Multiple Regression Analyses
GN predicted social media addiction total score (β = 0.184, p < 0.001) after controlling for
basic socio-demographics
Casale, Fioravanti, and Rugai (2016) Italy Cross-sectional N = 535 undergraduates (F = 50.9%)Age: Two way-ANOVA 15
22.73 (2.77) Vulnerable narcissists had a higher GPIUS-2 total score than both non-narcissists and GNs
(F = 6.69*, p < .0.05; η2 = 0.025);
M = 2.75 (1.37), M = 2.22 (1.14) M = 2.24 (1.18), respectively. No significant differences
between GNs and non-narcissists
Choi (2018) Korea Cross-sectional N = 285 employees (F = 53.7%) Bivariate correlation 14
Age: nr GN was positively correlated with the following BSMAS subscales:
Mood modification (r = 0.012, p < .001)
Withdrawal (r = 0.33, p < .001)
Tolerance (r = 0.102, p < .001)
Chung, Morshidi, Yoong, and Thian (2019) Malaysia Cross-sectional N = 128 community persons (F = 52.3%) Bivariate correlation 13
Age: M = 19.73 (1.99) No significant correlation between GN and social media addiction total score (r = 0.04,
p = n.r.)

Demircioğlu and Göncu Köse (2018) Turkey Cross-sectional N = 229 undergraduates (F = 67.7%) Bivariate correlation 10
Age: 21.51 (1.80) No significant correlation between GN and social media addiction total score (r = 0.04,
p = n.r.)
Hawk et al. (2019) Netherlands Longitudinal N = 307 adolescents (F = 52.12%) Cross-lagged Panel Models 20
Age: 12.87 (0.75) GN scores at T1 predicted social media addiction total score one year later via attention-seeking

5
(β = 0.034, p = .045; 95%CI [0.001, 0.068]).
Kircaburun, Demetrovics, and Tosuntaş Turkey Cross-sectional N = 181 undergraduates (F = 63.5%) MANOVA 15
(2018a) Age: 22.11 (2.50) High-risk social media users scored significantly higher than low-risk social media users on the
GN measure (F = 39.33, p < .001, η2 = 0.05).
Structural Equation Model
The direct effect of narcissism on social media addiction was statistically significant (βS = 0.30,
p < .001, 95% CI [0.19, 0.41])
Kircaburun, Jonason, and Griffiths (2018b) Turkey Cross-sectional N = 761 undergraduates (F = 63.99%) Bivariate Correlation 15
Age: 20.70 (2.28) Significant correlation between grandiose narcissism and social media addiction total score
(r = 0.22, p < .001).
Structural Equation Model
The association between GN and social media addiction total score was mediated by
cyberstalking (R2 = 0.24, p = 0.05).
Lee (2017) Korea Cross-sectional N = 185 undergraduates (F = 62.70%) Bivariate correlation 10
Age: 40.13 (10.66) Significant correlation between VN and social media addiction (r = 0.45, p < .001)
Hierarchical Regression Analysis
Attachment anxiety partially mediated the association between narcissism and social media
addiction (Z Sobel Test = 6.68, p < .001)
Lee (2019) Malaysia Cross-sectional N = 204 undergraduates (F = 60%) Bivariate Correlation 14
Age: 22.94 (3.43) No significant association between GN and social media addiction (r = 0.07, n.s.)
Multiple Regression Analysis
GN did not predict social media addiction
Liu and Ma (2018) China Cross-sectional N = 301 undergraduates (F = 27.24%) Bivariate correlation 14
Age: 20.43 (1.54); 26.92 (1.33) Significant correlation between social media addiction total score and both GN and VN
(r = 0.38 and r = 0.48, p < .001, respectively)
Multiple Regression Analyses
VN narcissism contributed to social media addiction total score explaining 13.6% of the total
variance (β = 0.370, t = 7.767, p < 0.001)
(continued on next page)
Addictive Behaviors Reports 11 (2020) 100252
S. Casale and V. Banchi Addictive Behaviors Reports 11 (2020) 100252

esteem” AND “Social media addiction” or “Social media problematic

use” or “Social media disorder” or “Social media abuse” or “Social
Quality rating

media misuse” or “Social media compulsive use” or “Compulsive Use of

Social Media” or “Excessive Social Media use” or “Facebook addiction”
(/20)

or “Facebook problematic use” or “Facebook disorder” or “Facebook

13

10
abuse” or “Facebook misuse” or “Facebook intrusion” or “Facebool

Covert narcissism had a direct effect on SNS addiction tendency (βS = 0.27, p < .001, 90% CI

(ρ = 0.097, n.s.). The rho value was considerably greater for the female group (ρ = 0.137, n.s.)
No significant correlation between grandiose narcissism and social media addiction total score
overuse,” or “Compulsive Facebook use” or “Excessive Facebook use”.

[0.68 - 0.082]) and an indirect effect mediated by loneliness, social anxiety, preference for
Significant correlation between VN and SNS Addiction Tendency (r = 0.40, p < 0.01). 2.3. Study quality
The association between GN and social media addiction was fully mediated by reward
Significant correlation between GN and social media addiction (r = 0.26, p < 0.01).

The search strategy was applied to each database, and the identified
records were downloaded and merged into a single EndNote library.
Duplicate articles (i.e., those identified by the search strategy in mul-
online interaction, and motive for SNS use on SNS addiction tendency

tiple databases) were eliminated, then the titles and abstracts of the
records were double screened. Two reviewers (SC and VB) checked the
titles, abstracts, and full-texts of the initial search results independently.
Those articles deemed ineligible by both reviewers (based on their title
and abstracts) were excluded. The search selection process is detailed in
Fig. 1. The studies were critically appraised using the AXIS tool, a
quality assessment tool for observational cross-sectional studies
(βS = 0.15, p < .001, 95% CI [0.03–0.25])

relative to the male group (ρ = 0.034, n.s.).

(Downes, Brennan, Williams, & Dean, 2016). The tool comprises 21

items for which there are three response options (“yes,” “no,” or “don’t
know”) to assess study quality and reporting transparency (with “yes”
sensitivity (z = 2.78, p = 0.005)

scored as 1, and “no” or “don’t know” scored as 0). A quality score out
Multiple Regression Analysis

Structural Equation Model

of 21 is then generated. It is worth noting that the tool allows each

study to be assigned a score, but the interpretation of these scores is
Bivariate Correlation

Bivariate Correlation

Bivariate Correlation

subjective. We used the following guidelines, which are already in use

(Moor & Anderson, 2019): scores indicating low quality = 1–7; scores
indicating medium quality = 8–14; scores indicating high
quality = 15–20). The quality score for each study identified by this
Findings

systematic review is presented in Table 2 and Table 3, and any addi-

tional comments on study quality are presented throughout the results.

3. Results
N = 513 undergraduates (F = 379)

3.1. Study characteristics

N = 143 community persons

N = 290 community persons

The initial search yielded a total of 1213 documents. After the title
Age: 26.09 (SD = 4.75)

and the abstract were doubled screened, 17 fit the inclusion criteria.
Sample characteristics

Four additional papers were identified with a manual search of the

Age: 23.5 (n.r.)

reference list of the key studies.

Age = M (SD)

(F = 48.25%)

(F = 64.14%)

All the 21 articles were published between 2015 and 2019, thus
Age: n.r.

reflecting the recent and increasing scientific interest on this research

topic. Nineteen studies were cross-sectional and two were longitudinal.
Three studies were conducted in Germany, three in Turkey, two in
Cross-sectional

Cross-sectional

Cross-sectional

Poland, two in Italy, two in Malaysia, three in Korea, and one each in
Norway, the Netherlands, China, Pakistan, Australia, and India.
Undergraduate students were the most commonly used samples
Design

(n = 14), four studies used convenient community samples, one study

used a sample of high school students, one study focused on employees,
and one study used a sample of inpatients with psychological disorders.
Australia
Country

The grandiose form of narcissism was assessed in 18 out of the 21

Korea

India

studies whereas the vulnerable form of narcissism was assessed in six

out of the 21 studies. 14 articles assessed the association between
narcissism and generalized PSMU, whereas the other seven were fo-
Lyvers, Narayanan, and Thorberg (2018)

cused on PFU. Table 1 shows the measures used by the studies included
in the review.
Thiagarajan, Venkatachalam, and

3.2. Main findings

Sebastian (2017)
Table 2 (continued)

Results concerning the association between grandiose narcissism

Shin et al. (2016)

and generalized PSMU appear to be inconsistent across the studies

Authors (year)

(Table 2). Seven studies reported a significant positive correlation

ranging from r = 0.06 (Andreassen et al., 2017) to r = 0.38 (Liu & Ma,
2018). In keeping with these results, Hawk, van den Eijnden, van Lissa,
and ter Bogt (2019) found that adolescents’ grandiose narcissism scores

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 S. Casale and V. Banchi

Table 3
Studies about narcissism and PFU included in the review (n = 7).
Authors (year) Country Design Sample characteristics Findings Quality rating
Age = M (SD) (/20)

Atroszko et al. (2018) Poland Cross-sectional N = 1157 undergraduates (F = 51.9%) Bivariate correlation 18
Age = 20.33 (1.68) Positive association between GN and FB problematic use (r = 0.13, p < 0.01)
Multiple regression analysis
GN was a significant positive predictor of BFAS total score after controlling for the Big Five
Personality traits (β = 0.17, p < 0.01)
Blachnio and Przepiórka (2018) Poland Cross-sectional N = 360 undergraduates (F = 64%) Bivariate correlation 15
Age = 22.22 (SD = 6.84) Positive association between GN and FB intrusion (r = 0.32, p < 0.01).
Structural Equation Modeling
A positive significant path between GN and FB intrusion was found
Brailovskaia and Margraf (2017) Germany Longitudinal N = 179 undergraduates (F = 77.1%) Bivariate correlation 15

7
Age = 22.52 (5.00) GN at T1 was significantly and positively associated with FB addiction one year later (r = 0.19,
p < .05).
Multiple Regression analysis
Controlling for gender and age, narcissism explained 7.1% of the variance in FB addiction
scores (β = 0.26, p < .001)
Brailovskaia, Schillack, and Margraf Germany Cross-sectional N = 520 undergraduates (F = 75%) Multiple Regression Analysis 14
(2018) Age = 22.42 (4.61) GN predicted BFAS total score (β = 0.136, p < .001)
Brailovskaia et al. (2019) Germany Cross-sectional N = 112 inpatients with psychological problems Bivariate correlation 15
(F = 71.4%) Significant positive association between GN and BFAS total score (r = 0.21, p < .05)
Age = 49.43 (9.17)
Casale and Fioravanti (2018) Italy Cross-sectional N = 535 undergraduates (F = 50.08%) Bivariate correlation 15
Age = 22.70 (2.76) Positive association between both GN and VN and FB problematic use (r = 0.13 and r = 0.25,
p < .001, respectively)
Structural Equation Modeling
GN was indirectly associated with FB addiction via the need to belong and the need for
admiration
Malik and Khan (2015) Pakistan Cross-sectional N = 200 undergraduates (F = 50%) Bivariate correlation 10
Age = n.r. Positive association between VN and BFAS total score (r = 0.20, p < .001)
Addictive Behaviors Reports 11 (2020) 100252
S. Casale and V. Banchi Addictive Behaviors Reports 11 (2020) 100252

predicted social media addiction total score via attention seeking one Although this first systematic review makes important contributions
year later. Conversely, four studies did not find a significant correlation to understanding the relations between the need to satisfy narcissistic
at the bivariate level, and one study did not find significant differences needs and problematic use of online social platforms, there are limita-
between GNs and non-narcissists in PSMU scores. The three studies tions that need to be kept in mind. First, this review relied almost ex-
investigating vulnerable narcissism and PSMU reported a significant clusively on concurrent associations. Unfortunately, this research field
moderate positive association (r = 0.45 by Lee, 2017; r = 0.48 by Liu & is still dominated by cross-sectional studies, which hamper the possi-
Ma, 2018; and r = 0.40 by Shin, Lee, Chyung, Kim, & Jung, 2016). bility to establish the direction of the association between narcissism
Similarly, a study comparing vulnerable narcissists and non-narcissists and PSMU. The only two studies that collected data at multiple points
found the former to have significantly higher scores on a PSMU mea- have reported that grandiose narcissism predicts PSMU (Hawk et al.,
sure relative to both non grandiose and non-narcissists (Casale, 2019) and PFU (Brailovskaia & Margraf, 2017) one year later. Long-
Fioravanti, Rugai, Flett, & Hewitt, 2016). itudinal studies are especially needed in this field because it is im-
More consistent results were found when research focused on PFU possible to rule out the possibility that problematic use of SNSs re-
(Table 3) in that all seven studies found significant positive correlations inforces the very issues that led to its use in the first place (Slater,
with narcissism, be it grandiose or vulnerable. The association with the 2007), thereby helping to sustain those particular narcissistic needs and
grandiose form, which was assessed in six out seven studies, ranged desired gratifications. Although narcissism is often conceptualized as a
from r = 0.13 to r = 032. The association with the vulnerable form, stable trait, some researchers have suggested that narcissism and social
which was assessed in two studies, ranged from r = 0.20 to r = 0.25. media use are mutually reinforcing. Halpern, Valenzuela, and Katz
(2016), for example, conducted a cross-lagged analysis of a two-wave,
4. Discussion panel survey in order to determine whether narcissists take selfies as an
outlet for maintaining their positive self-views or whether selfies in-
The aim of this review was to examine and critically appraise the crease their levels of narcissism. Their findings point toward the pre-
existing quantitative research on narcissism and PSMU to increase our sence of a self-reinforcement effect by which narcissism influences
understanding of this relationship. First, two different trends emerged: selfie production, which, in turn, increases the levels of narcissism re-
some authors did not distinguish between different online media (i.e., ported by users over time. Moreover, longitudinal investigations would
PSMU was defined as a generalized difficulty in regulating one’s own be able to answer the question whether such relations tend to remain
use of various social media) whereas some others focused on PFU. On stable over time, or whether they change in strength in different life
the one hand, this might indicate a tendency to consider PFU as a periods. In addition, the majority of the studies involved convenience
distinct behaviour that deserves to be conceptualized and analyzed as a samples made up entirely by college students (n = 14), and only one
single construct (Marino et al., 2018). On the other hand, it is not study (Andreassen et al., 2017) reported efforts to ensure the sample
possible to rule out that some studies focused on FB simply because it being nationally representative. Finally, it is noteworthy that only one
was the only available online social network till some time ago and still study (i.e., Brailovskaia, Margraf, & Köllner, 2019) was conducted with
is the most commonly used social networking online medium (Statista, a sample composed of a non-general population sample. Future studies
2020). should pay more attention to clinical samples as well as to adolescents,
Consistent results were found regarding the positive and significant since high-school students are the population more involved in online
association between grandiose narcissism and PFU, and the only two social platforms. Future research should also pay attention to potential
studies that included a vulnerable narcissism measure reported a po- moderators of the relationship bewteen the two forms of narcissism and
sitive and significant correlation as well. Conversely, studies in- PSMU. Previous studies highlighted that online social media allow
vestigating PSMU use as a unitary category (i.e., studies that did not greater control over self-presentation, and this means that they might
distinguish between different online platforms) reported less consistent be particularly appealing for those narcissists who search for admira-
results. This result implies that narcissism might not have consistent tion by projecting a perfect image (i.e. perfectionistic self-presentation
effects across social media platforms, and some key differences between might moderate the association between narcissism and PSMU; see
the platforms might exist. In other words, one possibility is that dif- Casale et al., 2016).
ferent SNSs differ in the extent to which they facilitate the narcissistic Beyond these limitations, the current findings have both theoretical
needs satisfaction, which, in turn, has been found to be associated with and practical implications. From a theoretical point of view, they
problematic use (see Casale & Fioravanti, 2018). For example, Twitter highlight one of the potential psychological risk factors for problematic
differs from Facebook in certain functional ways. Facebook, in parti- use of online social platforms, particularly Fb. From the practical point
cular, has been described as “an ideal tool for self-promotion as users of view, they highlight that it is important for clinicians and counselors
can frequently post status updates, comments or photos of themselves to evaluate and address the needs that narcissists try to meet through
and reasonably expect timely and frequent positive feedback” (Panek, the use of FB, in order to also reduce the behavioural symptoms of Fb
Nardis, & Konrath, 2013, p. 2006). Differently from Facebook, Twitter addiction. In fact, according to the already mentioned Uses and
may not be as good a tool for self-promotion, as it limits the length of Gratifications different people can use the same medium for very dif-
tweets to 140 characters (Davenport, Bergman, Bergman, & ferent purposes. This might imply that treatments that focus on the
Fearrington, 2014). Also, Twitter allows users greater anonymity than behavioral dimensions of PSMU (e.g., the lack of control on one's own
Facebook, which may privilege the content of one’s message over one’s use) without addressing those needs that led to the problematic use in
projected identity, and research has shown that Twitter use is driven the first place are less likely to be effective.
primarily by interest for entertainment news, celebrity news, and sports
news (Hargittai & Litt, 2011). The current findings confirm that FB Declaration of Competing Interest
might be particularly appealing to both grandiose and vulnerable nar-
cissists in that the current review shows that it is more likely for nar- The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
cissists to be at risk for PFU than at a risk for a more general difficulty in
regulating one’s own use of online social media. Moreover, the findings References
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