Three-Dimensional Narcissism Scale for Children: Structure, Reliability, and Construct Validity

Recent advancements in the theory of narcissism emphasize that it is a multidimensional construct with three distinct facets: agentic, antagonistic, and neurotic. Although this model has been extensively studied and supported in adults, there is a lack of instruments assessing the multidimensional structure of narcissism in children. In response to this gap in the literature, we aimed to introduce a new measure of three-dimensional narcissism in children. In three studies among children aged between 8 and 10 years (N = 189, N = 235, N = 163), we successfully supported the presence of the three-factor structure of narcissism. In addition, we identified respectable reliability and validity for the new measure. Agentic narcissism positively correlated with self-enhancement values, agentic attributes, and self-esteem. Neurotic narcissism was negatively correlated with self-esteem. Finally, antagonistic narcissism was negatively associated with self-transcendence values and positively with self-enhancement values. In conclusion, we propose a 12-item measure distinguishing agentic, antagonistic, and neurotic narcissism in children.