How many close friends do you (think you) have? Representative panel data on narcissists' self-reported number of close friends

• Published in: Personality and individual differences 2021-08, Vol.178, p.110865, Article 110865
• Main Authors: Degro, Greta Mia, Fehn, Theresa, Schneider, Sarah, Schütz, Astrid
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Friends; Friendship; Impulsivity; Longitudinal studies; Measurement; Methodological problems; NARC; Narcissism; Narcissistic admiration; Narcissistic rivalry; Panel data; Social networks; Socioeconomic factors
• ISSN: 0191-8869; 1873-3549
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2021.110865

In this study, we explored how individuals high on grandiose narcissism perceive the size of their circle of close friends by analyzing representative data from 22,728 participants from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP). Using a two-dimensional conceptualization of narcissism, we proposed that an individual's levels of narcissistic admiration and rivalry would be differentially related to the self-reported number of close friends. Two multiple linear regression models—the first controlling for age, gender, and relationship status and the second additionally for willingness to take risks, patience, and impulsivity—showed small effects: admiration was positively (Model 1: B = 0.286; Model 2: B = 0.249) and rivalry was negatively (Model 1: B = −0.297; Model 2: B = −0.275) related to the number of close friends. Although very plausible, the findings regarding rivalry have to be interpreted with caution due to measurement issues. The results provide a deeper look into how individuals high on narcissism perceive their social networks and raise theoretical and methodological issues to be addressed in future research. •Relations of narcissistic admiration and rivalry with self-reported close friends•Using a nationwide representative sample from the German Socio-Economic Panel•Admiration was positively related and rivalry negatively related to number of friends.