Regulatory focus and regulatory mode - Keys to narcissists' (lack of) life satisfaction?

The current study was conducted to examine the influence of regulatory focus and regulatory mode on narcissists' subjective well-being considering the differentiation between narcissistic grandiosity and narcissistic vulnerability. Across two samples (Ns = 297, 143), grandiosity is positively correlated with life satisfaction and this positive relation is mediated by a high promotion focus (samples 1 & 2). Vulnerability is negatively correlated with life satisfaction and this negative relation is mediated by a low promotion and a low prevention focus (sample 1) and by a low promotion focus and high assessment orientation (sample 2). The current study indicates that promotion focus and assessment strength, have different implications for narcissistic grandiosity and vulnerability and provides new insight into how narcissistic self-regulation strategies affect life satisfaction.