The Relationship Between Dark Triad Personality Traits and Phubbing: Mediating Role of Psychological Distress
Keywords:
Dark Triad Personality Traits, Phubbing, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Young Adults, MediationAbstract
Current research explored the relationship between dark triad personality traits and phubbing and also examined the mediating role of psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) among young adults. Study employed Short Dark Triad Scale (Jones & Paulhus, 2014), Generic Scale of Phubbing (Chotpitayasunondh & Douglas, 2018), and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale – 21 items (Lovibond, 1995) on 403 university students from 18 to 28 years of age. Correlation analysis showed that all three dark triad personality traits (Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) were positively associated with phubbing. Furthermore, in the parallel mediation model, only depression positively mediated the relationship between Machiavellianism and psychopathy with phubbing. This study will help in identifying the personality traits, specifically negative personality traits, that are associated with phubbing and the underlying mechanism by examining the mediating role of psychological distress in this relationship. This can aid in developing preventative and intervention methods to reduce phubbing.
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