Is narcissism associated with baseline cortisol in men and women?

Narcissism is a personality trait characterized by feelings of grandiosity, a craving for admiration, and a lack of empathy. Although there are reasons to expect that narcissism might have adverse physiological and health implications, very little research has directly assessed such claims. Moreover, prior research specifically assessing links between narcissism and basal levels of the stress hormone cortisol yields mixed evidence. In an attempt to reconcile previously inconsistent findings, we examined narcissism and basal cortisol in a sample of 366 young adults. We found little evidence for an association between narcissism and cortisol. We discuss how narcissism may be related to physiological outcomes over time and across situations.