Pathological Personality Traits and Self-Esteem Reactivity to Daily Perceptions of Status and Inclusion

Abstract

This study examined the connections that pathological personality traits have with self-esteem reactivity. This was accomplished by asking 651 participants to complete measures of pathological personality traits as well as daily diary measures concerning their state self-esteem and daily perceptions of status and affiliation. Multilevel analyses focused on three types of associations: 1) the associations that daily perceptions of status and inclusion had with state self-esteem, 2) the associations that pathological personality traits had with the average daily perceptions of status and inclusion and the average daily level of state self-esteem, and 3) pathological personality traits as moderators of the associations that daily perceptions of status and inclusion had with state self-esteem. The results revealed that daily perceptions of status and inclusion were positively associated with state self-esteem. In addition, various pathological personality traits were associated with average daily levels of perceived status, perceived inclusion, and state self-esteem. Further, negative affectivity and detachment both moderated the associations that daily perceptions of perceived status had with state self-esteem.