Adult Attachment Styles in Students with Narcissistic Parents

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between perceived parental narcissism, by differentiating between maternal and paternal figures and the subsequent attachment outcomes (anxious, avoidant, and disorganized) experienced during adulthood in the context of adolescents and young adults, especially targeting the populations of Asia and India, which are often understudied in literature. A dual method approach was utilized for this study, combining Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines with qualitative case study analysis. The sources were collected from PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus from January 2018 until March 2026. A total of 35 sources were analysed using the PRISMA methodology. Across the literature that was examined, perceived narcissism in either parent was consistently associated with insecure patterns of attachment with emotional neglect, inconsistent caregiving, and conditional appearance arising as the primary psychosocial mechanisms linking parental narcissism to attachment insecurity. In general, paternal narcissism was significantly related to avoidant attachment, while maternal narcissism was related to anxious and disorganized attachment. These results contribute to the literature by taking attachment theory research beyond the anxious-avoidant dimension to focus on disorganized attachment and offering one of the first comprehensive analyses of narcissism in relation to Asian family cultures where collectivism may influence the perception and expression of narcissistic parenting. Furthermore, a model is suggested for screening and referring individuals raised in a narcissistic environment to the appropriate service providers, as well as future research directions.