Thenarcissistic people, and especially men, could seeadversely affected your cardiovascular healthdue to this personality trait, according to a study by the University of Michigan and the University of Virginia published in the journalPLoS ONE. Narcissists are subjects who give themselves excessive self-importance, consider themselves unique, and live devoted to the cult of themselves.
To reach this conclusion, the researchersmeasured the cortisol levels of a series of studentsthrough saliva samples to check levels of psychological stress. They were then subjected to a series of questionnaires to identify the most narcissistic personalities. The results revealed thatthere was more cortisol in the saliva of the more narcissistic men, although the same did not happen in women. The authors suggest that this trait could permanently hyperactivate the brain’s stress response system – hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) – without particularly stressful circumstances.
“Although narcissists have a good image of themselves, they need the admiration of others, and alsoresort to defensive strategies such as aggression when they feel their superiority threatened“explains David Reinhard, co-author of the study. These types of strategies are linked to an increase in the reactivity of the cardiovascular system to stress and an increase in blood pressure.” Narcissistic men may be paying a high price in terms of physical health , in addition to the psychological costs it entails for their relationships “, concludes Sara Konrath, co-author of the work.
