The Dark Tetrad, Perceived Stress, Coping, and Depression

Abstract

Occupational stress has a significant negative influence on the physical health, psychological wellbeing, and performance of employees. The purpose of these two studies was to test a serial mediation pathway in which occupational stressors influence perceived stress, which influences emotion-focused coping, which influences risk of depression. Additionally, the studies tested a moderating influence of the Dark Tetrad personalities on the stress appraisal process. Participants were recruited from two populations of nurses and were asked to respond to a series of questionnaires. Support for the serial mediation pathway was found in Study 1 but not Study 2. Additionally, a moderating effect of grandiose narcissism was found in Study 2 but not Study 1, such that those high in grandiose narcissism were less likely to appraise stressors as stressful. No other findings were significant, suggesting that the Dark Tetrad does not influence stress appraisal. However, future research should use a larger sample size and longer timeframe to further explore these findings.