Prediction of dark personality traits and self-destruction based on emotion regulation among adolescent females

Temperament is determined as a relatively constant, basic, and innate position that underlies and modifies the expression of activity, emotionality, and sociability among people. The current study aimed to investigate the prediction of dark personality traits and self-destruction based on emotion regulation among adolescent females.

This correlational study included 250 adolescent females using a cluster sampling method in the academic year of 2018-19 in Shiraz, Iran. The participants were asked to complete Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, Dark Triad Scale, and Chronic Self-Destructiveness Scale.

The results of the regression analysis showed that emotion regulation with beta coefficients was able to predict significant and positive dark personality traits (0.25), narcissism (0.49), Machiavellianism (0.39), psychopathy (0.32), sadism (0.35), and self-destructiveness (0.49) (P<0.05).

Directly targeted interventions to regulate emotion may be useful in addressing risky behaviors of adolescents with self-destructive and dark personality traits.