title: Factor structure and psychometric properties of the Pathological Narcissism Inventory among Chinese university students.
abstract: The Pathological Narcissism Inventory (PNI) is a multidimensional measure of narcissistic pathology. This study examined the factor structure and psychometric properties of the PNI in a sample of Chinese university students in Hong Kong. Eight hundred and thirty-one students completed an online battery of questionnaires assessing narcissistic pathology, self-esteem, unstable sense of self, and maladaptive self-defense strategies. Results replicated the 7 first-order factors and the 2 second-order factors of the PNI. Each of the 7 first-order factors and the 2 second-order factors had good internal consistency. Preliminary findings also supported the concurrent validity of the PNI. The PNI appeared to be a valid measure of narcissistic pathology among Chinese. Findings of this study suggest that the core pathology of pathological narcissism might involve an inflated sense of self-importance that is not substantiated by actual achievement, and bearing this unsubstantiated sense of self-importance renders narcissists highly susceptible to self-deflation when their narcissistic needs are not met.
authors.affiliation: Center for Studies of Psychological Application and School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jianing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Freedom
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Katty Kit Yee
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology; D002681:China; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009289:Narcissism; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011594:Psychometrics; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities